Meet Harry our new baby

This is Harry who has come to live with us and we are so happy.
Harry is a Cockapoo a cross with a cocker spaniel and a poodle.
He is 12 weeks old and we have had him for almost two weeks.
Our lives have been so empty since we lost Barnie last December and now having Harry around its just brightened our world up and we are all getting along just fine.
He is a lovely little charactor so playful bouncy and loving.
We named him after Gordons grandpa who sadly passed away a few weeks ago.
I have just put our names down for puppy training classes which we start in two weeks time
so i will keep you informed on how we are doing

What ive been doing

Havnt posted since April as ive been really busy gardening.

Wanted to grow my own veg this year so in March i turned the conservatory into a greenhouse and started all my seeds off.

As you can see from the picture they all did really well and had sprang to life by mid April.

Last October Gordon made me three raised

beds on the walled side of the garden as it was a bit of a mess and needed something doing to it. We also took the old paving slabs up and made a pebbled area and behind the beds we made a woodbark area so we could add fruit bushes.
As you can see in the pictures its really looking good and im so proud of my little veg and fruit patch,I have used one bed for strawberrys only and next month they should be ready for eating.

The middle bed has runner beans,kidney beans,French beans,peas,carrots and mooli a large indian radish that is fab raw or cooked.

The last bed has pac choi,lettuce,brussels sprouts,brocoli,radish,oions,garlic and beetroot.

In front of the kitchen i have tomatoes,courgettes,and herbs growing.

Witches ATC

Coven
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

The theme this week on TMTATC is Walpurgisnacht which i think in English means Night of the Witches,but im not sure.
I just love these old crones swapping spells over a nice cup of tea they look as if they wouldnt hurt a fly.

3D Mermaid ATC

Mermaid ATC
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

Made this for the TMTATC challenge
This weeks theme is Mermaids and Water Sprites.
My ATC background is made using card,twinkling H2os,and deep image crystal clear glazing crystals.
Although the back is wavy it is still ATC size and looks like the ocean floor.
The Mermaid face is made of friendly pastic,with beads,charms and rayon threads.
A little different i know but i was in a 3D collagey mood and i hope you like her.

Monas Cat

Monas Cat
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

Made this for the tag you r it challenge group.The challenge this week was to make a tag using no stamping.
Ive used clipart,tassels,peeloffs,bindi,s and ive used one of the air dry clay molds i made earlier today,Its the one that came out all raggedy which i love.
The background is a peice of card that i have used Pinata alcohol inks on and i much prefer the colours of these to the ranger ones they seem to stand out more,
Anyway thanks for looking and i hope you like it.

Molding Madness

Found some old molds i made ages ago as i was rumaging round this morning, so got my Makins Clay out (terracotta) and pushed some in the molds.

As you can see i started to run out when i got to the chat noir mold so two of them are going to look nice and tattered.

I will show you how they come out when they are dry and i have coloured them.

LAST WEEKEND AT ALLY PALLY

SATURDAY
Gordon and i were at the Ally Pally papercraft show selling our wares and we had a great time as usual.A big hello to Marina and Mary it was lovely to see you both again.

The samples above were made by our friend Jayne using our Rubber stamps,Twinkling H2os and twinkling H20 solution that enhances the colours even more and enables you to paint onto acetate plastic glass and other shiny surfaces.
Jayne demonstrated this product for us and we sold out of the 200 bottles we took with us in a day and a quarter.
Thanks Jayne for helping us this weekend we really enjoyed your company.

SUNDAY
Another great day and the highlight of it for me was meeting Linda and her friends.
Linda was really upset because she couldnt get her friendly plastic to do friendly things and always ended up in a mess.
So i sat her down in front of everybody and took her through it step by step and she was fabulous and so was the brooch she made.
We worked out the problems she had been having was caused through overheating the plastic, which i dont think she will do again now shes got the hang of it.

Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge 2
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

Paris is the challenge this week for Theme Thursday so i chose the Moulin Rouge as it was a place i would have loved to have visited when it was first established.
I have used rubber stamps and ephemera.
The dancer in the center is one of the original showgirls and i love the way the curtains are flowing around her.

Button Doll

Button Doll
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

This is my entry for the Wednesday stamper challenge.
This weeks theme is Button Dolls.
The buttons and beads are made from friendly plastic.
The youth,wings and background stamp are from Once Upon a Stamp.
Finished it off with rhinestones.

New Product FLEXI MAG

New Product Board
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

Happy new year everyone.
This is my sample board for our new product, FLEXI MAG a paper (gloss or matte) which has a flexable cuttable magnetic backing.
It takes all inks and can be run through an inkjet printer .
You can use it as a backing for shrink plastic,stampbord etc to make magnets too its really good fun and has put me back in the mood to craft.
We are launching it in Farnborough this weekend and it will be on our website early next week.
Smiles Robert

Alphabet fairy

Alphabet fairy 01
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

This is my contribution to Created by hand tuesday.
Im not up to making much at the moment but this is something i made a few months ago.
Im very slowly coming to terms with what has happened and hope you all like
Thanks Robert

SAD NEWS

SAD NEWS
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

Sorry i havnt posted or joined in any challenges lately
On Friday at 4.10 pm our liitle boy Barney sadly died peacefully and suddenly with us by his side at home.
After 3 weeks of tests and x-rays he was finally diagnosed with Addisons disease which he has probably had since birth or contacted years ago.
This horrid virus is virtually undetectable and slowly Very slowly takes your life without you knowing it.
By the time the symptoms are recognised it is usually too late.
We are both devastated and so upset he was only 10 and such a happy little chap.
Barney thank you for coming into our lives and being such a lovely friend,giving us so much LOVE and making us so happy.
We love and miss you terribly and our hearts are broken
from your 2 daddys
Robert and Gordon xxx

Headware ATC

Ave Maria ATC shrine
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

Selected this ATC for my entry in this weeks TMTATC challenge.
The theme is headware.
Ive used lots of celtic rubber stamps that ive made into a kind of shriney background ephemera a transparancy and a couple of rhinestones.

Flower Spirit tag

Flower Spirit tag
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

Created by Hands challenge this week was also tags.
This is the one i entered.
The quote stamps are from Invoke,papers are from Basic Grey,the flower and scalloped ovals are wizard die cuts and the little face is made of friendly plastic.
Thanks for looking Robert

4x4 Challenge Lace

4x4 Challenge 02
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

The theme for 4x4 Friday this week is lace.
I decided to do my first bit of digital art and here it is.
The background with the leaves and lace is a print i made a few months ago.
Really enjoyed doing this and may do more when i have time.

4 x 4 Friday Challenge

4 x 4 Friday Challenge
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

This is my first 4 x 4 peice.
The theme for this week was trees.
Hope you like it
Used Rubber stamps from Sunday International inks and watercolours.

We 3 Queens ATC

We 3 Queens ATC
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

My entry for Inspiration Muse
The first theme is Crowns so i thought i would give this rubber stamp its first showing.
Its by Grunge Gallery Artstamps and will be available from Once upon a stamp from mid December.
I used coloured pencils in a manic way and like the carefree feel to it.
I can see this stamp becoming one of my many favorites.
By the way Rubber Stamp sheets are sent post free all over Europe
from Once Upon A Stamp.
http://www.onceuponastamp.co.uk

Through Cleopatras Window

Through Cleopatras Window
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

My entry for Wednesday Stampers The theme this week is Diamond

A peek through the window of Cleopatra as she ogles the hugh blood diamond sent to her by her lover Marc Anthony.
Mixed media ATC using rubber stamps,transparancies,assorted ephemera,glitter pens and rhinestones (theyre a boys best friend haha)

Sing and rejoice door closed

Sing and rejoice door closed
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

This is my entry for Thin Mondays ThinkATC.
This weeks theme is Houses.
I used ruber stamps and ephemera to build my house just enough room for one person haha

Gothic Arch Friends

Gothic Arch Friends
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

The theme is Friends this week.
I used Rubber stamps from Grunge Gallery at Once upon a stamp (little boy little girl and william Morris Background),Distress and blending block inks and a transparancy.

Train Travel ATC

Train Travel ATC for trade
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

My entry for tone on tone for Saturday Stampers
Clipart background,Rubberstamped Train (once upon a stamp)
Clipart figures.
Used distress and blending block inks to colour it all in brown tones.

THeme Thursdays - Boys

Wanderer ATC
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

My first contribution to Theme Thursday.
This is an ATC using stamps from Once Upon A Stamp (boy, clock and Gothic text background) and Invoke Arts (quote)
Hope you like it.

Saturday Stampers Tag Challenge

Saturday Stampers Tag Challenge
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

The challenge this week was tags.
This is my contribution using stamps from Once upon a stamp and Invoke Arts
Papers are from Basic Grey

First Gothic Arch Card

First Gothic Arch Card
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

Done for the Gothic Arch group Challenge.
This weeks theme is TEXT so i used ripped pages from Indian newspapers and rubber stamps from Once Upon A Stamp.
This is my first Gothic art card and i have used FlexiMag for a base so that i can use it as a magnet to put on my filing cabinet.
Hope you like it

What Ever Happened To Hollywood ATC

What Ever Happened To Hollywood ATC
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

Done for Think Mondays Think ATCs
The Theme for this week is Hollywood
Hope you like my entry

Floral ATCs

Floral ATCs
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

Here is a set of 7 ATCs i made using my own designed floral rubber stamps which you can buy at once upon a stamp,email Gordon at http://www.info@onceuponastamp.co.uk for prices etc.
These were all made differently with various multi media that were lying around on my craft table at the time.
They are for trade on my flickr site.

Fur and Feathers Mask ATC

Fur and Feathers
Originally uploaded by Eclectic Storm

THis was done for a fur and feathers swap,i used fake fur,feathers and rubber stamping

Contribution to TMTATC theme Birds

These are my two contributions to Think Monday Think ATC

The theme this week was birds, i hope you like them.