November Card Chain Challenge Reveal

 The November Card Chain Challenge saw me send my card to Hilary here in the UK and I received a lovely card from Gundi in Germany.
This month there was one of my fave colour combos and a 'Winter' theme among the choices.

I used Villainous Potion, Wilted Violet and Shaded Lilac for my ink blending.

White heat embossing added some definition to the dangly bits (!) from the tree branch and some second and third generation stamping in both Versafine black and  Memento Grape Jelly for a little bit of depth.

The branch was highlighted with a Posca pen to give a snowy effect.

Tree line was stamped in Versafine Clair black and again some white Posca pen used for the snow.

I did a little light ink blending with Hickory Smoke across the base of the trees after seeing something similar whilst trawling the internet and I quite liked the way there is no actual defined horizon with things just melting into the background.

Finished it all with a few spatters!

Thanks for looking and for any comments you may leave - I appreciate it very much! x

Traditional Christmas at TIOT

 Here we are at the end of November and time for another challenge at Try It On Tuesday.
Our theme this time is 'Traditional Christmas' and there is nothing more traditional for me than a Christmas Tree!

This is a little different for me.
I have been wanting to try something like this for a while and having been gifted a HUGE (and I mean huge - like 3 storage boxes worth!! 😵😵) amount of costume jewellery from my Mum in Law during one of her 'clear outs' with the words 'Take to the Charity Shop or do whatever you want with it', I did precisely that - what I wanted with it!

I have made four of these 'Christmas Tree shapes' using some of the jewellery - all different and there's enough left for at least 3 more!

The rectangular ones measure 9" x 7" in their shadow box frame and a square one which is 8". I'll share this in another post as it is a little different.
I have a small table at a local Christmas Market next week so I shall take a couple of these with me.

I wanted velvet for the background but decided it was simply too expensive - (how I wish we'd have kept all the material during a previous M-I-L clear out!) so opted for felt as an alternative.

I spent ages arranging bits of jewellery to make the shapes! A variety of gold, pearl and sparkly diamante brooches, earrings, and pieces from a pendant all framed with a yellow metal chain made this piece.

Am sorry the pic isn't brilliant - the camera doesn't like all the bling!

I was thinking though when I was making it that these would make lovely memory keepsakes - I have a few pieces of my Mum's in my own jewellery box so I may make one for me to keep.

Hope you can find some time to link up a make this challenge and please have a look at what the teamies have come up with - we all love visitors! 

Sharing over at -
CFTH - A/Goes
Use Your Stuff - Shine Bright
Peace on Earth - A/Xmas
Holly and Ivy - A/Xmas

TIOT's 'Cold Outside' Mid Way

 Tuesday marks the mid way point of our latest challenge over at Try It On Tuesday - which is called 'Baby It's Cold Outside'.
If you're not a regular follower to the blog and missed the launch post, my card is in the post immediately below!

I have had a lot of pleasure this year making snowy scenes and this one is where I finally managed to do a fox that I am happy with! ( I seem to have been trying to do a good one for such a long time!) I did though make a teeny mistake on his bum... but then other half said it could be a shadow so I left it!

Chipped Sapphire and Broken China used on the sky, trees stamped in Rich Cocoa and then coloured with pencils.

Foxy was stamped in shades of brown with a touch of Elements Russet Orange.

I considered white heat embossing the tree branches but experimented with a white acrylic pen instead to try and achieve frosty bits rather than a block of white!
My usual helping of white spatters for a snow storm and done!

Thanks for looking and you have just a week to get your entry into our challenge at TIOT! x
Sharing over at
Peace On Earth #52 - A/Goes Inspiration photo
Inkspirational - Seasonal (Winter)
Crafting Happiness - Turkey or Any Animal
52CCT - Winter Countryside

New challenge at Try It On Tuesday

 Our challenge at Try It On Tuesday this fortnight is called 'Baby It's Cold Outside' - and to be honest here today it is!!
Although not quite as cold as it looks on my make!
I have been completely devoid of any ideas for the last couple of weeks and currently am experiencing a bit of a struggle to make anything. The idea for this came from a FB craft group -there were a few examples of white ink on dark card - it also meant I could continue my quest to use up my coloured card.

The base card is called 'Curious Blue'. I bought it some time ago at a show so am not sure which brand it is and this is the last piece.
I liked the colour but it is a bit of a pain to work on as it has a subtle coating on it.
That said it took the white ink really well.
I think there was some white embossing on the original examples but I simply used the white ink without.

Began by ink blending the snow with Brilliance Moonlight White - it took a while to build up the colour but was quite chuffed with the result.
Added the fence and owl (both Card-io) using Versafine Clair Nocturne.

The trees were stamped several times using the Misti but on the last stamping I shifted the card ever so slightly to try and give a misty effect. Again was more than a little pleased with how it turned out!

The branches at the top are from a Stampin Up set and those at the bottom are Card-io.
I used a white Posca pen to add snow to the fence, highlight the owl and then spattered loads across the whole card to make a snowstorm.
Thanks to the Card-io group for helping me out in my time of need!

Hop over to the blog and see what the rest of the team have done this week - and hoping you will be able to take part in this challenge! x
Sharing over at
Christmas Bingo - Letter 'B' (Free/Stamped Image/Ink Blending)
Daisy Chain - Christmas/Winter
IYGACAC - White
Use Your Stuff - Winter/Snow
Cards4Guyz - Winter Scene

Mid Month at Try It On Tuesday

A little reminder of our current challenge at Try It On Tuesday which is called 'Sparkle All The Way'.
This is a remake of a card I made a few Christmases ago and it turned out to be one of my faves so every year I make a couple to send.

Sparkly die cut branch and a set of die cut sparkly stars on an ink blended background of Chipped Sapphire and Stormy Sky and a liberal helping of posca pen splatters - a really simple card.

The Inkylicious sentiment I think is just beautiful.

Thanks for looking - there's still time to join us if you haven't already - and even if you have you can do so again!!   

Sharing at -
MMM - Lighting the Way
Pearly Sparkles - Christmas/Winter
Dragonfly Dreams - Photo

October Card Chain Challenge Reveal Post

My card this month went to Linda in Minnesota and I received a lovely card from Jo!
I chose the technique option of 'Spotlight Stamping' and tried to incorporate the colours - which was a bit of a struggle!

My large background stamp is from Crafty Individuals - there's something so quintessentially English about stopping everything for Tea!
I love a cuppa - but only if it's in a china cup!
It's a long time sice I did anything even a tiny bit shabby so this was a nice change from ink stained fingers.

Stamped the image with Versafine Morning Mist hoping this would pass for Silver.....😉

Stamped again and cut out part of it and coloured in shades of pink (Cotton Candy) and a pale blue (Baby Blue) and a little splash of yellow, and popped it up with some dimensional foam pads.

To finish the spotlighted centre image I added a liberal helping of Glossy Acccents onto the dangly 'teabag' suspended from the middle cup
The lace is from my stash.

Still time to sign up for the November chain - it's great fun!

New Challenge at TIOT!

 Today's new challenge at Try It On Tuesday which runs for 2 weeks is called 'Sparkle All The Way'.
Perfect for those Christmas cards....
So I didn't make one..... a Christmas Card that is! Although I love schparkly blingy stuff I thought for my first card this challenge I would do something not Christmas related.

I had this idea in my head of the magical fairy wandering into a grey gloomy place and setting it alight with her magic wand!

So here it is - I had a lot of fun making it.

All Lavinia stamps using Morning Mist and Charming Pink Versafine Clair inks and lots of secondary stamping.

I think I went a bit mad with the glitter ......🙈.... and the Wink of Stella became a complete over the top Blinking Binge!

That said I was really pleased with how it looked - until I tried to photograph it - what an absolute 🐷🐷🐷to get a decent picture - and this was the best of a bad bunch of about 40!

Anyway even if it doesn't inspire you I hope you'll come and join us this time round - thanks for looking and have a great day whatever you're doing! x
Sharing at
Daring Cardmakers - A Bit of Bling
Krafty Chicks - Any Occasion

Home for Autumn!

 

It's been a very dull grey misty morning here and it generally feels damp - the leaves on my Birch tree have changed colour and are now falling -  I think Winter is on it's way!

Another Lavinia to share - (and having needed to do a couple of new homes cards for my own stash and unable to come up with something a bit out of the ordinary, I turned as always to Pinterest).

This is a large slimline card and I really like these cottage and lodge stamps 'cos I can imagine them hidden away in the magical kingdom home to elves and pixies!

This one is called 'Bayleaf Cottage'.

Coloured with Inktense pencils after ink blending the background with Spiced Marmalade and Fossilized Amber.

I used Carved Pumpkin DI through the Lavinia stencil.

A few leaves stamped in Autumn colours and a little tree (which looks just like my Birch tree!) to finish.

Sharing over at
Stencil is our Game - A/Goes w/Orange option
I Spy - Autumn Shades
Dragonfly Dreams - Autumn

Thanks for looking - have a great day whatever you're doing! x

New Challenge at Try It On Tuesday

 Happy Tuesday! It's time for our new challenge over at Try It On Tuesday and for the next 2 weeks we're wanting to see your Halloween creations.
Having no children means Halloween doesn't mean much to us although we do always buy some treats for the trick or treaters! Other half always hopes it rains so they stay at home because it means he gets to eat the sweeties! How bad is he????!!

I don't send Halloween cards so this was a bit of a challenge for me too!

I have been having a play recently with coloured card as a base so I found some really vivid orange and used that for this.

I started by stamping my owl, cat and broomstick (all Lavinia) direct onto the orange card.

Then inked my moon with Brilliance Moonlight through an Inkylicious stencil and ran a white pen round the edge.

The hills were Black Soot DI and I resisted being too heavy with the ink as I really wanted the orange base to show through a little.
The trees are one of my most used sets from Inkylicious.

The castle is Lavinia and the teeny spider (cute isn't he?!) is from Card-io.

I finished by dragging the white stencil brush across the card to give the appearance of mist - but am not sure I achieved it!

I intended to stamp 'Dont Forget to Fly' but am damned if I can find the stamp - it'll turn up when I don't want it no doubt!

Hope you will join us this month - if you pop over to the blog there's lots of spooky makes from the DT too.
Thanks for looking today - have a lovely day whatever you're doing. x
Sharing over at
Triple B - (Bird- my owl)
Stamps+Fun - Black and Orange
Crafty Calendar - Halloween
Sparkles - Things that go bump in the Night
If you give a Crafter a Cookie - Black
Two Old Bats - Halloween

Inspired

Having been determined to stop dithering about and to be inspired by some of the gorgeous makes that pop up from the Lavinia Design Team, I have done several pieces which are now in frames.

A couple of my friends have granddaughters who are mermaid mad so there are 3 makes spoken for and finding their way into Christmas stockings this year - this is one and I will share the others at a later date.

This measures 11" x 9" in it's frame (which is white wood with a white mount) and to be honest I am really chuffed with myself for stepping away from the normal sized card fronts and having a go at something a bit bigger.

I have also become a stalker! I watch every tutorial from the very talented Mona Hauge who makes the most amazing scenes and is very generous in sharing her tips and techniques.
She has given me confidence to try things I wouldn't have thought I was good enough to do and I have been really delighted with the results.

For the first time I have begun to use coloured pencils to add definition and shading instead of trying to use an ink brush and I am fast running out of white pens for highlighting!
Yes, there have been mistakes, disasters and downright frustration but it has been wonderful expanding my horizons a little bit!

I am still though very nervous of trying alcohol ink backgrounds for stamping scenes (only cos the Yupo paper is so expensive) and I confess to having a Gelli plate and have never used it - but that's the next on the list! (And yes I know I've been saying that for EVER but I will get round to it!)

Thanks for looking today - I know blogging seems to be way down the list now with social media taking centre stage but I really appreciate all those of you who continue to follow my blog and leave comments.
Have a lovely day whatever you're doing. x
Sharing over at
APTTC - A/Goes
Ally's Angels - A/Goes
Crafts Galore Encore - A/Goes

Mid Way at Try It On Tuesday

  

Our latest challenge of 'Autumn' is now at the half way point over at Try It On Tuesday.
Please scroll down to the post below for my first DT card!

I have had this 'Autumn Fall Fairy' from Lavinia for a long time and I very rarely use it - I don't know why because it's another lovely fairy from their collection! 

She's quite big which is why I opted for a DL sized card.

All other stamps are also Lavinia.

I used Versafine Clair Fallen Leaves for the trees and Fall Fairy and inked the leaves in a mixture of Versafine Clair Acorn and Memento Potters Clay.

I think maybe I should have made the forest floor a bit more intense but I really wanted to have the fairy as the focal point.

There is a spattering of glitter on wings and hair but it doesn't show very well in the photo!

Some lovely Autumn creations already linked in the challenge blog - and if you've not done so you still have time to join us!

Thanks for looking today. x

Try It On Tuesday - New Challenge

Well! October! This year has simply flown by and Autumn is well and truly upon us here.
Seem to have spent a lot of time lately getting up the leaves from the large oak tree that overhangs onto rear driveway from our lovely neighbours. Its a magnificent tree and I love to watch it as the seasons change.

Anyway the card for Try It On Tuesday's new challenge of Autumn which starts today is inspired by a mischievous squirrel who loves to run up said oak tree with his spoils - he disappears from view when he gets near the top so I hope he has found someone to share them with!

I used a variety of colours and stamps for this make.

The leaves and the log stamps are from Lavinia as is the rather large 'nut' being inspected!
Potters Clay, Rich Cocoa, Tangelo, Tea Leaves Memento and Versacolour inks, and Fired Brick Oxide.

The two squirrels are from Card-io and the sentiment is from Inkylicious which I thought was so very apt and very true.

The rest of the DT and our Guest Designer have lots of inspiration for you so please pop over to the blog and pay them a visit. Hope too, that you will join us this fortnight and celebrate the colours of Autumn! x

September Card Chain Challenge

 Reveal Day at Card Chain Challenge!
My make this month winged it's way across to Chris in Illinois and I received a lovely card from Dee in Kenya. Truly global we are!

I was happy when I saw the themes to choose from this month and it also meant I could incorporate the colour option.

My theme choices were Foxes/Autumn and the colours were Sky/Sunset/Bark. All tied in very nicely!Started by ink blending the sky in Speckled Egg and Stormy Sky DI.

Stamped the tree using Lavinia for the trunk and some branches from Card-io.

I have been trying to perfect the inking and colouring of foxes for a while and am still not there I don't think despite watching lots of tutorials!
I stamped originally in Russet Orange and then began highlighting with acrylic pens - not too bad but more practice needed!

The leaves on the tree were a freebie stamp with a mag some time ago and they have been well used!
Colours were second generation Versafine Shady Lane, Barn Door and Spiced Marmalade DI.
I finished off by adding some ink blended grassy mounds.

Thanks for looking today - there's still a few days left if you want to sign up for next month's chain - it's great fun!

Also sharing at -
Four Seasons - Autumn
CUYL - Autumn Leaves
Sweet Stampin' -Autumn 
Cupcake Inspirations - Colour Board

Flaming Sky

 My friends other half runs a Hot Air Balloon company and in one of our previous houses we were surrounded by fields - it was perfectly normal for him to be flying over the field next door very low - and on two occasions landing in it! Cue one very irritated farmer!
(Have just read that back and it sounds like we move every five minutes - the house I am talking about we were in for almost 30 years!)

I  bought this Card-io set called 'Up Up and Away' last year and this was the first time of inking so I am hopping over to NBUS before this months challenge closes.

I saw something similar to this some time back on Pinterest and with a birthday looming for my friends hubby it was the perfect opportunity to use the set.

I wanted a sunset sky but think I might have overdone it cos it actually looks like the forest below is on fire..............🙈🔥🔥

Regulars to my blog will know how much I like ink blending!
Used Crackling Campfire (how apt!), Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door and Black Soot for my background.

The trees are one of my most used stamp sets - they're from Inkylicious and I love them.

Simply stamped in black Versafine Clair in the foreground and then used Versafine Crimson Red for my second and third generation stamping.
Am sharing over at
MMM- Create your own Background
Dragonfly Dreams - Happy Birthday
Mix It Up - Make your own background
SOS - Colour me Beautiful

New Challenge - Try It On Tuesday

The next two weeks we have the challenge theme of 'Going Round in Circles' at Try It On Tuesday.
Please pop over to the challenge blog and see what the rest of the DT have done this time!

I just had a bit of fun with a spotty stencil and some pretty Distress Oxide colours.

From the top - Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio, Blueprint Sketch, Picked Raspberry and Fossilized Amber.

Die cut a few different sized circles and simply stamped some sea/beach themed images in the same colours.

Used a little Wink of Stella in the same shades on the stamped circles so it has a teeny shimmer in real life.

Thanks for looking today and hope you can join us for this challenge - we welcome all types of crafting not just cards as long as it fits with the challenge theme!
Sharing at
Stencil Fun - A/Goes
Daisy Chain - Dots/or Stripes
HLS Stencils - A/Goes

Fantasy at Try It On Tuesday

 Our new challenge starts today at Try It On Tuesday and the challenge prompt this time is 'FANTASY'.
The challenge runs for 2 weeks and am really looking forward to seeing all things mystical and magical over on the challenge blog.

I am a Lavinia fan so obviously I turned to the Lavinia stamp drawer (which still has some space in it - just in case Father Christmas is reading this🎅)

My8" x 6" art piece has been placed in a piece of mountboard ready to be framed.

The Oracle is weary.
But her long journey across the magic lands are nearly over.
She has arrived at the edge of the enchanted forest and can see her home in the far away Dreamweaver Castle.
There is just the water to cross to come to her journey's end and she will resume her seat on the three legged stool and communicate the prophecies visited upon her.
Her time to rest is almost here.

All stamps are Lavinia apart from the tree line across the water which is Inkylicious and the rocks which are Card-io.

I used a variety of coloured inks for the stamping and blending. Versafine Clair, Elements and Versacolour.

I hope I have inspired you to make something magical to share with us this challenge! x
Sharing too over at
Fairy and Unicorn Challenge - Fantasy

August Card Chain Challenge

It's reveal day at the Card Chain Challenge and I re-visited an enjoyable technique for my make this month!
My card went off to Jo (http://angelnorth.blogspot.com/) here in the UK and I received a lovely card all the way from Oz from the lovely Robyn!
This month I managed to incorporate a couple of the challenge themes - opting to use as near as I could tothe colours given and using vellum.

The technique of double stamping on vellum is an easy but effective one starting by firstly white embossing your design on the front of the vellum then simply using normal ink on the reverse.

I used an old Stampendous set called Summer Leaves and usually I only use one colour ink on the reverse as it achieves a soft silhouette effect but because I wanted to try and get the challenge colours in this time I used Versacolour and Versafine Clair ink in Tangelo, Sage and Shady Lane. 

The effect is a bit more dramatic but I quite like it.

The reverse does take a little time to dry - you can speed it up with the heat gun but I am always worried in case the vellum warps too much or I overhear the already embossed front so I always leave to dry for a while before making up my card.

I added a large die greeting softly sponged in Tangelo and Shady Lane.

The 'sign up' for next month is open for the next couple of days if you fancy having a go -

it's lovely receiving cards from all over the world!
Also sharing over at
A Place to Start -  optional twist of leaves! (just made it before the challenge closed too!)

Life

 

Been a funny old week one way and another.

Life has a peculiar way of throwing you a curve ball one minute and then visiting upon you something to lift your spirits and make you feel that Life ain't so bad after all.

Hence the sentiment on this card.

I used some texture paste through the wave stencil and once dry lightly brushed over it randomly using Salty Ocean and Cracked Pistachio inks.
(I am really sorry about the photo - the light here is terrible!)

I had some tiny bits of card stacked ready to go in the paper recycling bin - I no longer keep little bits usually as I simply don't have any room for more stuff - but some of the bits came in handy as I have had this seahorse idea in my head for a day or two!

The tiny die cut seahorse was a mag freebie some time ago and coloured with Oxides - I added a teeny bit of copper gilding wax round the outline and a little bit on the body.
The shells and coral die cuts were also mag freebies.

We have had some torrential downpours the last few days and although I welcomed it in one respect as it meant I didn't have to water my pots, my poor dahlias and delphiniums are looking very sad this morning, the weight of the water laying heavy on their poor heads!

Anyway, I hope the sun is shining wherever you are and thanks for looking today!
Linking to
Pixies Snippets Playground #461
Cut it Up - Under the Sea
MTTC - Die Cuts
Stencil Fun - A/Goes

Let's Go Outside at Try It On Tuesday

Our latest challenge at Try It On Tuesday is called 'Let's Go Outside'.

Lots of interpretations for this one and look forward to seeing what the challenge prompt means to you!

I love the Sea.
I live in a pretty rural area but we're literally 10 minutes away from the coast so I have the best of both worlds.

Here's my make. The two girls are a stamp from Crafty Individuals and the boat is from Card-io.

I had it in my head that these two girls (sisters/friends) were just seeking solace at the water's edge, dreaming of escaping to some magical place aboard the boat!
(I know - fanciful imagination I have!)

I also got to try out one of the waves stamps from Inkylicious (which I bought and then forgot I had them!)

Just lots of ink blending and heat embossing and I fussy cut the girls to make them stand out a bit more.

This was one of those makes that I was (and still am ) undecided about as I think I maybe got the perspective askew - maybe the sea should have been less and the beach and sky more??? Just call me undecided!
Hey ho, it's done now!

Hope you can find time to join us for this challenge - we welcome all types of crafting, not just cards!
And please pop over to the challenge blog and have a look at the rest of the DT's makes - we love visitors!
Happy Crafting! x

TIOT - Mid Way reminder!

We're halfway through this fortnight's challenge at Try It On Tuesday where our theme is 'Sing A Song'
After being unable to get the last song out of my head (see post below) for a few days, I now have another one which is becoming equally as annoying! (particularly as I can only remember about two lines!)

Anyway here's my share based on the song by The Waterboys called 'Whole of the Moon'.

On seeing a Lavinia tutorial (thanks Jo) using Brilliance Inks direct to black card it surprised me just how effective the end result was so I had a go myself.
Out came the foliage stamps and the Brilliance inks - I used Cosmic Copper, Galaxy Gold and Platinum Planet for the foliage and Moonlight White (what else?!!) for the moon.

A little sponging with the white once the stamping was dry at the bottom and dragged across the top half to make a few cloudy bits and then a little spattering with a Posca pen.

I then ran the copper ink round the edge to finish it off.

The inks really do have a lovely shimmer  which the photo doesn't capture very well - it's subtle and not in your face like glitter and I rather like it!

Hope you like it too and maybe if you've not thought about joining us this time round you'll change your mind and link up to the challenge blog!
Thanks for looking and have a great day whatever you're doing! x