Sunshine

We are blessed today with clear blue skies and some warm sunshine - for a short while I have sat outside listening to nothing except the sounds of birds singing - and have been able to put all the worries about what everyone in the world is currently experiencing to the back of my mind.
Solitude is far better in the sunshine than underneath grey skies! 
I am sharing my own little bit of sunshine with you in this card.

I thought the sentiment was very apt as Nature does really seem to laugh in the sunshine.

My smooshed background is a small piece left over from another project and has some Mica powders mixed in so in real life it has lovely sparkle.
The 'corn' is part of a Woodware stamp, heat embossed in white and the die cut butterfly was cut from an odd piece of pearlised black card.

I received a card similar to this last year from a blogging buddy and it really was sunshine in an envelope!

I hope you too are blessed with a nice day wherever you are and that everyone is staying safe.
Thanks for visiting me today. x

For You

I have found it quite difficult to actually set to and create anything over the last few days and I suspect there are many like me at the moment with all that is going on.

Our lives have changed dramatically over the last week or so and without doubt there are more changes to come.
What I cannot get my head round is why people though seem incapable of doing as advised and just think that they can carry on like this is party and holiday season - hearing reports of pubs still open, car boot sales taking place, queuing up to get onto the top of mountains (I mean SERIOUSLY???)  and clearly not observing social distancing -  so sooner rather than later I hope that more stringent measures are enforced before more lives are lost.

So now my little rant is over I will share the single make since Tuesday!

It doesn't show in the pic but the dots are actually pearly - achieved by using an old gift card and dragging some acrylic pearl paint across the inside of the embossing folder.
Looks quite pretty in real life so not too bad considering I am struggling for ideas.
Linking up to -
Cardz4Galz - Spring Flowers (my die is called Cherry Blossom!)
Krafty Chicks - CAS
Crafty Gals - Flowers

I hope you are all safe and well wherever in the world you are. x

Spring Florals - Stamping Sensations Mid Month Reminder- March

I have copied the message from our Stamping Sensations challenge blog - 

We hope everyone is keeping safe and well during these unprecedented troubled times, it's all quite surreal and the daily news bulletins from all around the World suggest we are going to have to weather some stormy times before it improves. 

Amidst all that's going on posting a mid month reminder seems futile, but we know craft has helped many through difficult times in the past and perhaps now more than ever we will be grateful of our hobby to help us through and keep us sane. We as a team send our love and thoughts to everyone.

 Our challenge is Spring Florals and we have a new sponsor this month - Thirsty Brush - so pop over to the challenge blog and take a look!

Whilst I had the vellum out for my sparkly Christmas card (below!) I used up some of the small pieces and stamped a scribbly flower and heat embossed in white. 

I thought about colouring the back of them but then decided to use coloured card base instead so I stamped the stems and leaves, heat embossed and added a little colour before popping on the fussy cut flower heads.

Thanks for looking today - I suspect that I (and lots of you) will be posting more over the coming weeks whilst we keep ourselves occupied during self isolating or following the advice to 'socially distance' - at least the power of blogland will keep us all in touch with each other.   

I appreciate all my visitors and never more so than now! Stay safe. x

Sparkly Flower

(My reminder post for CAS Stencil is below this one - Please scroll down the page!)

The sun is shining here today for a change! We have lovely blue skies, although it is still a bit chilly we managed to get out for an hour and a walk - it was lovely and peaceful and we were able to not dwell on the current situation all over the world for a short time and just enjoy the fresh air.

I am keeping my promise to myself to enter the challenge at CAS Christmas each month (listen to me - it's only March!!! Call back in October and we'll see how I've done then!) - this month the challenge is 'Winter Flower'.

It's also their SECOND BIRTHDAY so Happy Birthday to everyone at CAS Christmas!

I used a Penny Black poinsettia stamp, stamping first on gold glitter paper then embossing.

I stamped the flower again on some vellum and heat embossed, and used the stem from another set for the stalk and the leaf.

Fussy cut and then added some sequins for the centre.

I managed to find enough hammered textured card to make this card. I think I am going to have to buy some more as I am beginning to like it a lot better than plain white!

The card is quite sparkly but delicate in real life and another Christmas card for the box!
Sharing over at
ABC Christmas - E=Embossing/G=Gold

CAS Stencil Mid Month

My Heat Emboss challenge is half way through at CAS Stencil - so there's a little time left for you to share something with us in our gallery.

There are some great makes over at the blog and some links to a couple of tutorials if this is something you haven't done before.
We also have a beautiful make from our Guest Designer - 

I don't use colored card very often considering I have a simply huge stash of it and think maybe I should at least make an effort to make a small dent in it!

I used Slate Grey for this card base and heat embossed in white through a feather stencil from Bee Crafty.

The sentiment (also from Bee Crafty) was one I simply had to have - I love it!

Stamped and embossed the sentiment and the inside of the card has a PC generated sentiment - 'Spread your wings'

I added a couple of sequins to the front to finish.

Thanks for stopping by.
Have a great day whatever you're doing! x

Dirty Leftovers Part 1!

Following on from my last post this is the 2nd card made with my finished 'Dirty Pour'. I've  a smallish square bit left which will be subject to a third and final post in due course!! But I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who visited and left me so many wonderful amazing comments - I was happy with my card but even happier that you all took the time to visit!

I have no idea why this frame looks like it isn't square! Cos it is...........................

Anyway -the background of the frame was the leftover piece from the embossed background on the first card.

I stamped a few grassy bits in Smokey Grey ink, then added a couple of pale pink flowerheads and a couple of small dots.

The flower is a die I have had for a while and never used and happily two small pieces cut off from the heart fitted so I was able to paper piece.
I haven't added a sentiment yet as can't make my mind up!

The same with the middle of the frame that I now have left over and have to decide what to do with it! Such decisions!!

Linking up to
CAS Mix Up - Acrylic Paint (Stamping/Die Cutting/Paper Piecing)

Flower Challenge - Anything Goes
Pixies Playground - # 373

Thanks for looking today. x

Dirty Technique!

I have made such a mess!
Not that's anything unusual - but I have made more of a mess than normal..... I was going to take some pics of the desk but decided it would be unfair to those of a nervous disposition!
This mess though is another to add to my list of  - FUN THINGS TO DO!

I have been DESPERATE to try the Acrylic Dirty Pour Technique and this months challenge at CAS MIX UP is to use Acrylic Paint - so bought a very cheap set of acrylic paints and watched millions of videos - well 3 or 4 anyway....

I covered the desk with some plastic, donned a pair of rubber gloves and had a few practice sessions mixing small amounts of all kinds of daft colours and pouring onto on odd bits of card  - (now I know why it's called DIRTY pour!) - before I was confident enough to use a piece of precious Yupo.

I AM SOOOOOO PLEASED WITH MYSELF! Turned out pretty well I think? Even the critic in the room said it was 'cool'!!!

Added bonus is I have quite a bit left
after cutting out my heart so have made another card (a later share) and have a small piece left for a third!

It's CAS MIX UP's 4th Birthday too so Happy Birthday and thanks for setting challenges which make me try out new things!

TIOT also has a challenge of New Technique so am linking my dirty poured heart (😁😁) over there too
and popping in at Crafty Gals Corner where the challenge is Add a Heart!

Can recommend having a go at this if you've not done it before - there's something simply amazing watching the paints run into each other and make yummy patterns - and it's well worth the mess! x

CAS Stencil - March

This month at CAS Stencil is my very first time hosting and my challenge is HEAT EMBOSSING.
I have had my eyes opened👀 discovering there are so many different ways to use stencils, not just sticking them down and ink blending over them!

So I really hope you will try this technique this month - and hope that you enjoy doing it as much as I did - links on the challenge blog to a couple of videos to help if you need it.

My card has an ink blended panel (Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers and Blueprint Sketch).
Stamped some bulrushes (Inkylicious) in Smokey Grey and spattered a little water over the panel.
Brilliance Archival Ink (Called 'Peacock' - 3 lush colours on the pad!) used for the 2 dragonflies and clear embossed.

The large stencil is from Imagination Crafts. Applied the Versamark Ink, removed the stencil and heat set with white embossing powder.
The sentiment was a freebie but it seemed to fit!

The DT have some lovely makes to inspire you and don't forget to check out the gorgeous card from our Guest Designer - Cat  (Cat Luvs Paper)

Tips - 
Dab the Versamark, don't rub.
Always use an anti static pad on your card before placing your stencil on top
Remove your stencil before getting out the heat gun! ...... Seriously, I know someone who didn't..... 😵😵

Irish Luck

I am not an artist.
I cannot draw.
This is a bit of a hindrance when you want to try watercolouring without stamps!!
But not to be deterred I have finally managed to produce something without just stamping and colouring in which is passable...

I saw a technique some time back where you literally start off with four tiny spots of paint and then drag out the colour to make loose flower petals - been trying to master it - they made it look easy (it's not - well I don't think so anyway!!) but think I am getting there slowly!

CAS  Watercolour's challenge this month is 'Luck of the Irish' so it gave me an opportunity to try the technique on something that is a relatively easy shape.

It's not perfect but I am happy with it!

Also linking up to
Rainbow Challenge - Emerald
Always Fun - Shades of Green
HLS Watercolour - A/Goes


Thanks for looking -
I love to hear from you, your comments are always appreciated and I am grateful! x

March challenge at Stamping Sensations

Time for another challenge at Stamping Sensations.

This month our theme is Spring Flowers - not much chance of them here - we are currently in the middle of yet another round of wet and very very windy weather!

My card is made using a stamp and die set called 'Let Friendship Bloom' by Thirsty Brush.

This is a really big stamp and therefore a really quick make!

Stamped and watercoloured then cut out and popped onto a white card base with 3d foam pads which gives it some dimension.

A little ink spattering and a sentiment from the same set - all done!

Hope you can join in this month - please pop over to the challenge blog and have a look at what my teamies have done -
oh and you can also see what prize you can win - IF you have followed our rules!! We ARE a stamping challenge so please make stamping the focal point of your entry!

See you soon. x

Rat Pack

I treated myself recently to some of Sarah's fab Funky Fossil Design stencils. (Well you simply have to have a treat now and then don't you????😁😁 )

Thing is there are so many wonderful designs it's hard to choose!
But here's one which I loved as soon as I saw it - called The Rat Pack. It arrived the day after I placed the order - how good a service is that?!

I mixed it with a sentiment stamp from Visible Image's  'Brighten the World' set and the skyline from  'The Right Direction'.

Die cut and watercoloured my Manhattan Skyline and mounted it all onto black card using a bit of Black Soot DI round the edges.

The light here is not the best as once again we have been treated to a deluge of rain, sleet and snow so the pic is not the sharpest or brightest - will try and amend that as soon as we get a good day for picture taking!

Linking up to -
Craft Stamper - A/goes
Cardz4Guyz - Use Ink/Paint
AP2S - Masculine
Mix It Up -A/Goes + Stencilling


Thanks for looking today - hope you are warm and dry in your part of blogland! x

Fun with Foil!

I have enjoyed playing about with Foils recently and there is still a few days left in our current challenge at CAS Stencil so have made another card!

It is a bit of a change for me to use a coloured card base and I have been disappointed with some coloured card that I have bought recently as it had a rough feel to it like it was unfinished! I am now on a mission to find somewhere here in the UK that sells smooth high quality coloured card in small packs (- I don't want to be buying 100 sheets - ) and doesn't need me to take out a second mortgage to buy it.

This grey card pack of 10 sheets was in a recent sale and was happy that it has a lovely smooth finish to it when it arrived.

The silver mirri card was a left over bit and fitted the length of the card so cut it out with wavy dies. The white was also a left over piece.
I heat embossed the sentiment (not very well looking at it!!!) in silver to keep the grey and white colour combo throughout.

I'm popping into the Playground this week with my make too.
Thanks for looking - would love to see your foiled stencil creations in the gallery if you have time to spare over the next few days! x

Christmas Stash

I've managed to make another Christmas Card🎄!

Thinking it will be really nice to have a small supply done and stored in the Christmas Box and this was a quick card really so I have no excuse not to continue with the Christmas makes.

CAS Christmas challenge is 'Joy'.
I don't have any dies or stamps that just say 'joy' so hope that my 'joy-ful' wishes stamp is OK.

The circlet die I have used is not specifically a Christmas one but it was in the die cut box and I thought it would double up as a Christmas one.

Simple snow embossed background and some silver Nuvo Pearl used on the flowers. A little double organza bow with a blingy buckle and a sentiment done in metallic silver ink - job done!

Am sharing this Christmas make at
Allsorts - Dies
Alphabet - W - Anything you Wish
Winter Wonderland - Anything Xmas

Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

February Mid Month at Stamping Sensations

It's half way time at the Stamping Sensations challenge this month.
Our theme is 'Feminine' and if you've not yet entered grab those girly themed stamps and get making!

Our sponsors are JMC Designs and  Bee Crafty and rather than me tell you about it, pop over to the challenge blog, have a look at what you could win and don't forget to check out our rules!
If you don't follow them then we can't select you for the prize!

I used one of Julia's digis called 'Marcelle', who is so obviously French (well she is to me anyway!).

So a French girl simply HAS to have a French background!

I printed the digi out onto watercolour paper and left overnight.

Stamped an Eiffel Tower from a very old stamp set and watercoloured a background.

After colouring the digi was fussy cut and popped onto the background using foam pads.
The sentiment is from the same set.

Hope you can find time to make a 'girly' card/project and look forward to seeing it in the gallery! x

CAS Stencil Mid Month Reminder

We're halfway through our challenge of Using Foil with your Stencils at CAS Stencil this month set by Barb.
I had fun using this technique and here's my DT card

I used some Brushos on mixed media paper for the background to my stars.
The stencil was a Christmas present!

Used Transfer Gel and a blue Deco Foil, running it through the old laminator.
After foiling I die cut out the stars.

The rest of the stamping on the card was done with silver metallic ink using a Stampin Up set.

Another card for my stash of masculine cards!

The one thing that no one tells you is that sometimes taking a pic to show off the shiny bits is a tad difficult!
So here's a little close up of my stars which are very shiny!!

Look forward to seeing your creations in the gallery!x

Boy Racer!

February 14th is a special day as it is DH's birthday!
When he was (much) younger he owned a silver Ford Capri which (according to him) was the best car in the entire universe🚀, it went fast ⛐⛐ and was his first love💕
(He obviously thought it might turn him into a demi god or something...... 💋💋😁)
Last year Visible Image brought out a stamp set entitled 'In The Right Direction' which featured a Ford Capri and I was tempted to buy it but didn't. Anyway whilst away this week my friend (who is just embarking on becoming like the rest of us and completely hooked on crafting) took me to a craft shop near where she lives.
Fate definitely played a hand as there on the sale rail were Visible Image stamp sets reduced to £8.40 and a double whammy of 3 for 2 offer - and there was one single 'In the Right Direction' set left!
(Of course 2 other sets found there way into the basket - you can't leave a bargain can you????) 

Thing was, I bought the stamp Wednesday, we travelled home yesterday and his birthday is today - so I made a very quick card last night.
HE LOVED IT despite me making it in about 30 minutes flat!

We had a lovely few days away (craft shop not withstanding!)  and the Tutankhamun Exhibition

at the Saatchi Gallery in London was awesome.

I took tons of pics - (far too many to share on this post) - it was such a special day and one which I will remember. 

I know people say you can see all these treasures in Cairo but we are highly unlikely to ever travel there and to be able to see the exquisite artefacts up close was just wonderful.
The amazing workmanship and attention to detail was incredible and the sheer beauty of some of the pieces took your breath away - it is impossible to imagine what it would have been like to be first into that gold and jewel strewn tomb!

Hope all is well in your part of blogland! x

Lovely Lilac!

Purple shades are not colours which I tend to use a lot, so if anyone asks me why I used Lilac on this card I would honestly answer that I simply don't know!!

The main challenge over at CAS Mix Up is to 'Make a Stencil from a Die Cut' .
This die used to be one of my 'go to' ones but it has been neglected recently.

I spent a little while agonising over the use of the pearls and am still not sure if their addition was needed or not but what's done is done!


So the elements of my card to comply with the CAS Mix up requirements are
Stencil from a Die Cut, Stamping, Die Cutting (the frame) and heat embossing (the sentiment and the spotty border are clear embossed).

Also sharing at
Mix It Up - Use a Stencil
Crafty Calendar - Use Dies

I am off for a few days with friends and a trip to see the Tutankhamun 'Treasures of the Golden Pharoah' Exhibition. Although there is no Death Mask (already back in Egypt), this will be the last chance to see the rest of the artefacts before they go to their permanent home in Cairo.
This exhibition is celebrating the Centenary of the discovery of the tomb and I am really looking forward to it!

Thanks for calling to see me today - hope everything is well with you in your part of blogland. Hugs from me. x

CAS Stencil February Challenge

This month at CAS Stencil, Barb has set us the challenge of using Foils.
Before I really looked into this, I thought that you had to have proper foiling machines to use foiling on your cards - but I found out that you can try foiling without buying lots of products if, like me, you are simply wanting to have a go at something different and don't have lots of cash to spend.
I used 2 different techniques on this card -and no it's not perfect (will explain in a minute) but I was happy with the finished article.

I watched some tutorials (lots listed on the challenge blog) and realised that I could perhaps try this technique with a little outlay.

I bought 6 A4 sheets of foil in different colours (from e bay) and invested in some Transfer Gel - neither broke the bank.

So - onto the card - the sentiment was done with a die cut, some foil left over from the main stencil and double sided sticky tape.
This was really easy - a sticky tape sandwich of card,tape and foil-  using a bone folder to smooth out the foil before die cutting.

The rose stencil is a new one. Secured it onto the card and used a palette knife to apply the Transfer Gel.
Once done, removed the stencil and left the Gel to dry. It dries clear so you know it's ready!
Foil over it, then put it between a sheet of parchment paper and ran it through an ancient (and I mean  ancient - like 20 years old!!!) laminator.

Filled with trepidation when I took it out and peeled off the foil..... ..........
Not too bad considering!!

There are some small gaps where the foil didn't stick - although this may have been my uneven application of the gel rather than the foil and the pre-historic laminating machine!

The DT have some lovely examples to show you so please pop over to the challenge blog and pay them a visit - and don't forget to visit our talented Guest Designer Steph's blog HERE
Love for you to try this out and join us this month - Happy foiling!! xx

Red and Black

A lovely week away with our friends topped off with winning the Bowls England tournament - so now we have a hat trick of 3 wins in this event in four years - we're really pleased!
Only downside was a very tiring 6 hour drive home so as usual it will take me a couple of days to get over it - decided to spend my relax time doing a few cards for some upcoming challenges.

CAS Watercolour's challenge this month is 'Red and Black'. These colours always shout 'Oriental' to me so my card was obviously inspired by that.

I dragged a brush with some watered down black paint and made a few background mountains, adding a little pale red highlights.

I used an old stamp which is a little bigger than the impression here - the balance would have been all wrong as it was too big  for the background - so masked off the bottom first and then stamped in Versamark Black.

I used a coin and carefully drew a circle, which I then watercoloured avoiding the spire as much as I could!

Some more watered down black paint and a very old Chinese letters stamp (no idea what it means or even if it means anything at all!) before framing and matting onto the base card.

Quite pleased with how it turned out as I am still not confident with watercolours and although there's not !

Also sharing over at Pearly Sparkles where the challenge is to 'Use Some Red'. 
Thanks for looking - hope all is well in your part of blogland. x

Feminine for February at Stamping Sensations

Bee Crafty is our sponsor this month at Stamping Sensations.

Our theme is 'Feminine' so there are lots of things that you can stamp relating to girly stuff!


Please follow our challenge rules because if you don't we can't consider you for the prize (details of which are over on the challenge blog along with some inspiration from the DT -if you need it!)

My 'fabulous flamingo' was stamped, watercoloured and fussy cut. Highlighted a little with a white gel pen.

The background done with some ink blending and tropical palm stamps.

I thought she needed a bit of bling so stamped and fussy cut a couple of the petals from the tiny flower stamp (not something I am repeating any time soon!!!) and made a little necklace

Sentiment stamped and then matted onto dark green card before placing on the card base.

Hope you find time to join in with us this month! x

Man Stash

As ever I have very few 'man' cards in the box.  Some time back I made a card using Alco Inks and a piece of metal - it turned out a rather dramatic peice -   (you can see it HERE if you want!)
At the time I thought to try the same theme but with a different technique for the background - here it is

I inked up the embossing folder with a couple of Distress Inks and used a scrap of leftover card.

Whilst it doesn't have the same impact as the Alco Inked card, the impression it left was really nice  a(well I think so anyway!).

Out with the Hot Glue Gun! A few dabs here and there and didn't bother too much about stringy bits as I moved the gun around and blobbed!!

Silver embossing powder over the top and heated again.

Matted it onto a leftover piece of silver card before putting it onto the base card.
I tried it onto a piece of dark blue base card too and it looked not bad at all as well - so another option!

At least I have made another 'man' card.
I am intending to sort through the folders and see what other abstract type designs might be able to get the Hot Glue and embossing powder treatment!

Sharing over at -
Inkspirational - Glitz a Strip or small area
Pixies Playground - Snippets
613 Avenue Create - A/Goes, option Shiny
Cardz4Guyz- CAS
Watercooler Wednesday - Male

Thanks for looking - and would love to know what you think - if you've looked at the other card too tell me your favourite?
We are off on another indoor bowling break with our friends this week - don't know why we call it a 'bowling' break as we normally eat too much/drink too much/laugh lots and the bowling is something we do inbetween!! x

Home

I am still suffering a little from lack of ideas and thought maybe if I had a quick tidy of the desk it might help.
I have a stack of odd bits of card shoved to one side so I began a sort through, dumping those that I couldn't use.

The brick background was obviously done for something (no idea what!) but it was there so I used that as the base - the card just kind of evolved from the background and it incorporated a little bit of everything and used up few odd bits.

The window die is one of a few Spellbinders ones that I own (and hardly use......)

I had a scrap of watercolour card (and it was only a teeny scrap) but miraculously it fitted behind the window!
So a little scene created with some stamps and watercolours.

The stamps are from a mag freebie some time back - and I bought the mag as I thought the stamps would be useful for quick New Home cards.

The fussy cutting of the plants and keys tried my patience a bit cos they really ARE small!
Used a grey brad to 'hang' the keys from.  

Am sharing this over at -
CRAFT - New
Craft Rocket - New
MAWTT - All things new
TIOT - White Space

Have a great day whatever you're doing and thanks for visiting! x