In the Spotlight + Mini Challenge... Elaine Langford-Pugh

Hi everyone! I am known as Elaine aka Ellapu in Blogland. I am 54 and live in Hampshire, UK. I work full time as an Investigator for Revenue and Customs, UK. I have been in the job for 15 years and love it. 

I suffer chronic pain through having 2 types of arthritis and also suffer with bi-polar - some days I don't make it to work and for the rest I struggle to do so.

I have had 3 abusive marriages - so much so have lived on my own for 16 years. In this time I went University and studied for a degree in Social Policy and Criminology, graduating in 2003.

Not all bad though as I do have an indoor rabbit (Bluebell) rescued from a breeder of snake snacks- I spend much of my time talking to her however without response (much like a man I suppose - hmmmmm!

I have 3 grown up children of whom I am very proud, all trained chefs but not one meal has been made for me but I think that's because I don't like a messed up kitchen lol. My gorgeous children combined have given me 7 beautiful grandchildren - ranging from 8 to 2. The youngest 4 include a set of twins but not identical. Real fun when they all in same space lol. I just love them all so much. (They wear me out!) Pics below.

Alanna aged 8, Blake aged 6, Aiden aged 4,
Harvey and Lili-Mae aged 2,

Freya aged 2 and Mason aged 2.

Recently, November 14th, for Children in Need, I was sponsored to have my hair clippered and wet shaved in my place of work - I raised £2000. The pic below shows myself, being silly along with a colleague who was partaking in ''Movember''.

I have only been into crafting for approximately 7 years starting with card making and I then dived head first into mixed media/altered art. I just love to get messy but not so keen on getting the paint from under my fingernails. Just thought I would share a few of my fave pieces.

All can be found on my blog - HANDCRAFTED BY ELLAPU

I will never be able to sell my creations on a regular basis as I know many people do not appreciate and look down their nose at ''Handmade Gifts''. I will never be able to afford to set up my own business so for the long term I live in hope that someone out there will like my stuff enough to be recognized. No hope and Bob Hope as they say - so many talented people out there. That's fine through as I find it relaxing and therapeutic-so gratifying for oneself.

Anyway that is enough about me and now onto

the mini challenge for January 2015.

I have chosen the theme of  ''SHABBY CHIC''.

I chose a mini ornamental shoe to alter. I painted it with gesso for the basis and over top with rose chalk paint. 

I covered the front, parts of the sides and the sole using mod podge and a paper napkin (beautiful tiny rose design) I used inka gold over the raised bobble part to make it pop. 

I adhered some mini guipere lace and pearl string. 

I then decided to make the shoe practical by covering some wadding with a print fabric and the same lace for the end product - a pin cushion!

Well that is it ladies and gents - I do hope you come join us here for this mini challenge. I for one need to see your creations to inspire me. Please link up your projects below via Linky.

Remember you only have ONE WEEK for this "Shabby Chic" Mini Challenge.

I would love to know how my post inspired you!

~ Elaine

An InLinkz Link-up

Have you begun....

....to get back to your crafting? To try that new technique you saw on You Tube or to get out those unopened pots and tubes?
 "New Beginnings"  this month is all about Grabbing hold of the New in New Year.
Mind you, there is only this week left to join in our challenge.

Let's see what our talented Team 3 Designers found that was new for their Challenge 43 Week 3 New Beginnings post!

DI

For "New Beginnings" I have a new art journal.... a 2-ring A4 folder.  This is the front cover done with a new stencil and stamp. Check out my blog for some additional photos and what I did, with what.

JENNY

I really don't like New Year Resolutions but I have challenged myself to be more free and experimental in my Art Journalling this year.  For my New Beginnings project I created this Art Journal page taking two Distress Ink colours at random and just playing with my stamps and stencils and not getting hung up about squint or poor stamp impressions!  It was very liberating! There are a few more details on my blog.  

CHRISTY
New Beginnings can sometimes mean going back to the basics.  See how I created this journal to help me with my New Beginnings for the New Year. I'm hoping my affirmations will have 2015 as a dreaming, inspired and making, Living an Artful Life!

 

MARGARET

 There are two interpretations of 'new beginnings' in my creation.  I made a reminder of my goals for the new year and used a new stamp set for the background.  I'm hoping the visual reminder on my wall will help me stay on track! Wish me luck!

BRENDA

Upcycle an old booze bottle with glass etching and a few Christmas lights

to create a "New Beginning" for something that would have hit the landfill by now.

Brenda

Have a super week and try to grab a little crafting time. It's so good for us!

You can find our LINK HERE

Look out next Sunday when ELAINE   is    In The Spotlight with her   heartfelt story!

This week offers more "New Beginnings"

With 2015 still feeling shiny and new have you made resolutions? Have you tried anything new? Our Challenge theme this month is "New Beginnings" -a whole New Year of possibilities!

Let's see what our talented and diverse contributors have been inspired to do for their New Beginnings in Week 2 this week.

Elaine

New Home

12x18 canvas - tissue crumpled for background, painted and glimmer misted. Houses made of chipboard decorated using various colours/techniques. Tall posh house in amongst derelict looking buildings. Posh house has coloured trees/grass whilst the others have dead ones.

Lynne

Hi, its Lynne here with my New Year's Resolutions to: 1. Be more organized; 2. Take better care of myself; 3. Finish unfinished projects from years gone by; and 4. No more melt-downs. For my project to be a constant reminder of these things, I created a journal and will journal my progress through the year. Stop by my blog for more pictures of the beginning of this journey at Her Craftiness.

Rupa

A Floral themed pocket album that I made for a mother who wanted to gift "something special" to her daughter on her 18th birthday! 18th birthday opens up a NEW world, I am sure you will agree, there will be many New Beginnings.

Toni

Happy 2015 everyone! The beginning of a new year means a new inspirational word for this year. I chose "Breathe". In other words... relax, stay calm, take one day at a time. Stop by my blog to view more pictures and information about my project. xoxo Toni

Neva

For Anything But a Card New Beginning challenge I decided to re-purpose a mailing box and several cardboard tubes to hold my crafting mats.  Several years ago I made a file box to hold my sketches that would look pretty while sitting on my craft table.  Meanwhile my collection of craft mats were rolled and stored in cardboard tubes . . . nothing pretty about that!  Here is the result, come check out the process on my blog. 

Rita Marie

Hi Everyone! I wanted to do something colorful to inspire you, and also something representing a new year of another wonderful creative journey for all of us. I used one of my new Creative Lovely Sketches. This sweet face is part of a Bonus Set of 3 sketches that I found in one of my journals. I did this picture in my Dylusions Journal... I used oil sticks, acrylics, stencils, collaged papers, and of course my imagination. I hope your imagination runs wild this year, and you have the best creative year ever. Please check out my BLOG for more information on my sketches available, Free Stuff, and also a quick tutorial on this journal page. Thank you! xo

Pallavi

For my project this month, I decided to create an art journal page with a quote that I really like and which I think is perfect for our January theme. The background has several layers of gesso, acrylic paints and Silk Acrylic glazes and I used my newest Stencil girl stencil and some stamping to add some dimension. Do check out my blog for more pictures.

Have you been exploring new themes,

new products or in fact,

finally finding some time to create?

We would love to see what you have been up to.

By clicking on our designers names you will find more

to inspire you... Oh and leaving a little love

while you are there is sweet!

PLEASE

Share any current project you have created and JUST REMEMBER... create anything EXCEPT a card for this challenge. ALSO - Please new projects only {no-backlinking}. To be eligible for TOP 3 selection -- Please do us the favor to mention and LINK BACK to this challenge using this permalink provided so that your readers may find us and play along { http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-new-year-brings-new-beginnings-for.html }.  :)

**A REMINDER** This Challenge will go through midnight January 25th giving you 3 weeks to play along and ENJOY the creative process! We will share more of our Design Team's creations each Sunday to keep you inspired.

An InLinkz Link-up

Double Delights - Featured Artists!

The last part of 2014 certainly galloped at full speed didn't it? On behalf of our ABAC Design Team I want to sincerely thank everyone who entered:
Challenge 41 - Open and Challenge 42 - Celestial your artwork is awesome!

Presenting our Featured Artists 

Challenge 41 - Open

Rosie

Stempelhexchen

Pawsitively Creative

Ingrid

This was such a tricky choice.

Congratulations!

We would love you to take our badge to display on your blog.

Presenting Our Featured Artists

Challenge 42 - Celestial

Pam

Donna

Mamapia

Maria

Thank You.

Please grab yourself our badge for your blog.

Challenge 43 - Our brand new one for 2015

New Beginnings is underway

We would love to see what's exciting you in this sparkly New Year.

There are more inspiring offerings from our Design Team coming in Week 2

We would love you to check back and leave us a little love too!

A New Year brings "NEW BEGINNINGS" for week one of Anything But a Card Challenges No. 43

Good Morning Everyone and Happy New Year! It's a brand new month and time for a brand new ABAC Challenge to excite your creative muse. We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are ready to ring in the new year with some fabulous new inspiration and challenges. 

Now we get down to business... it's time for a new challenge today here at Anything But a Card Challenges... let's get ready to play and have some fun! Thanks to all who joined us in our "CELESTIAL" Challenge #42. If you missed out on seeing the amazing creations... please CLICK HERE to view week One, CLICK HERE for week 2, and CLICK HERE for week 3.

The new Challenge... to go along with the new year... "NEW BEGINNINGS". For Anything But a Card Challenges No. 43 use the prompt "New Beginnings" to inspire your muse. There are so many definitions of this prompt... we encourage you and your muse to create with your vision of this timeless theme.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Please share any current project you have created and JUST REMEMBER... create anything EXCEPT a card for this challenge. To be eligible for TOP 3 selection -- Please do us the favor to mention and LINK BACK to this challenge using this permalink provided so that your readers may find us and play along { http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-new-year-brings-new-beginnings-for.html }. ALSO - Please new projects only {no-backlinking}. :)

**A REMINDER** This Challenge will go through midnight January 25th giving you 3 weeks to play along and ENJOY the creative process! We will share more of our Design Team's creations each Sunday to keep you inspired.

Let's see what part of our DT has created!!

Please click on the designers' name to visit their blog. We hope you’ll take a minute to go see their work up close... and as long as you’re there – please leave them a little love!

Lisette

I used a new stamp, with a new moon, for my new beginnings, to create a little hanging ornament. I decided that as the new year marks a new beginning the words, by Eleanor Roosevelt, were something to keep in mind throughout the year, particularly when things are not going to plan! Please visit my BLOG for more details.

Sheri

Just moved to a new state, and a new city in a new house. So its defiantly new beginnings for me. Please visit my BLOG for more details!

Julie

My Tag Calendar was designed to pile on the positives and to uplift the spirit every time the date is checked. The best changes I believe are those that come from within us. Listening carefully to my heart and instincts is my 2015 plan! You can find more details on my BLOG.  

Ruth

Old is New or a New beginning, back a week ago I used one word to sum up the last year, or old year if you like it, and I found that I still need to continue with that same word in the new year as well. So old year out and new year in, word stays and it is: dare. This time I created a small box with inspirational words in it in case I need some push. I used some completely new things in my art and of course also old and reliable techniques. For details please visit my BLOG.

Heather

New Beginnings for Old Cookie Tins...

I have been saving several cookie tins knowing that some day I would use them for some thing. This past Christmas was that some day and using them as gift card/treat holders was the some thing :) Visit my BLOG to see the other "repurposed" items I used on these cuties as well as instructions to make them.

Diana

This year I'm starting a brand new art journal. I took some time to decorate the cover. I get weekly prompts from the documented life and documented faith projects. Both are inspirational, and push me to try new things! Please visit my BLOG for more details.

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We hope our designers have you INSPIRED to take some time to be creative!! We can't wait to see your creations and we hope that you will join in and share them with us! Stop back next Sunday to see more of our Design Team creations!

An InLinkz Link-up