Baubles

So -  it was wet this morning. I had a really good excuse then not to do a lot (I did the ironing though....😇😇)
Ironing completed I had a bit of fun messing about with faux snow. Well, we've seen enough of the real stuff lately (and more to come) but surprisingly I am not sick of it YET....and decided to remind myself what it looked like ahead of the forecast for later this week.

These were really cool to make and not bad for my first attempts. I am going to make some more and be more adventurous colouring the acetate a bit more - perhaps adding moons and stuff!

I need though to get some more of the ribbon that you can gather - it has string attached that you pull and does the gathering work for you (as shown on the right hand side one) - better pic here I think - so if anyone can help I'd be really grateful as I don't know what it's called to search!

I popped some tiny lights behind to take the pic - these lights are tiny battery operated ones and the battery compartment is really small and light so might try and make one with the lights inside and hide the battery compartment at the back.
I think these will look really nice on a tree!

Baubles and Fairies are of course from Lavinia. Faux snow and glitter was in my stash (now all over the table....LOL)

Sharing over at -
Inkspirational - Mythical
Not Just Cards - A/Goes
CHNC - A/Goes
LPOCF- A/Goes
Pile It On - Circles ( well a bauble IS a circle!)
Crafty Friends - A/Goes

Hope you are all enjoying yourselves whatever you're doing! Thanks for looking.x  

Stamping

I am still enjoying having some free time - although I am off to a meeting tomorrow once that is finished I am free then for another couple of weeks before my year as Immediate Past President starts. (Commonly called 'The Pasty'!)
I have been making the most of being able to just sit and play with inks - it's been lovely.

I saw this colour combo on Pinterest and thought I would try it.
The really bright blue and vibrant red appealed to me and although I get lots of inspiration from Pinterest I am very guilty of spending far too much time looking and not enough time doing!

I sponged the background then splashed some water droplets. This has given a real subtle effect and I am pleased with myself!
The Dandy stamp is by Inkylicious inked with Versafine Majestic Blue and Versamagic Wheat colour.
The red berry stem was inked with Dew Drop Rocket Red.
Sentiment stamped with Majestic Blue.
Another one for the stash!

Am sharing this over at
Cards In Envy - No patterned Paper
Craftaholics R Us - A/Goes
Crafty Addicts - A/Goes
Time Out - Inspired by Words (and I chose Birthday!)


Have a great day whatever you're doing - and as always I really appreciate you visiting and leaving any comments. x

Friends

We still have a little snow lying here, but the sun is out and the sky is a clear blue so no doubt it will all be gone by the end of the day even though it is still really cold.

As I was confined to the house because of the snow (!!😀😀) I made quite a few cards.
The sky might be blue but I had a terrible job taking this pic!
The butterfly stamp is an old one. Part of a set with flowers but no idea whose it is. I embossed it in white and then used my DOx Shaded Lilac.
Confess I am really like the oxides... need to get some more!

This is a really simple and quick card - I made another using a different butterfly and another colour.

The sequins are actually an incredible exact match to the lilac in real life although they do have a pinky tinge to them on here. But when all said and done - bling is bling!!

The sentiment is from SU - and I stamped it in Wilted Violet DI. Often when I use DI's to stamp sentiments they don't give a good impression but this time it worked perfectly.

Sharing over at -
CAS on Sunday - Sequins
Allsorts - Bling
TSOT (March Technique)- Embossing
Crafty Catz- A/Goes

Thanks for taking the time to visit - I hope you are all warm and well wherever you are in blogland! x

The Garden Wall

Almost the weekend! Altho how much of a good weekend will have to be seen as we have snow forecast again! So it will be a very very GOOD weekend if it does 'cos I can just stay in the craftie space!! (Probably in my PJ's too - sheer bliss!)

Made a card for this month's challenge at CAS Watercolour. The theme is 'Garden'.
I don't use digital images very often now but I remembered I had this one which was a freebie many moons ago - I think the company was Just Inklined - but am not sure.

The image is called 'Garden Wall' so am hoping it qualifies for the theme - if not never mind cos I have another card for my stash! 
It was quite a nice image to colour. I printed it out on watercolour card then left it overnight.
All coloured with Distress Inks.
I highlighted the wall with Old Paper DI creating a wash then going over the cracks again to give it more depth.

Am quite pleased with my colouring on this - I am usually guilty of being too heavy handed and using too much ink but this looks fine (to me!)

Also popping over to share at
The Flower Challenge - Anything Goes
Sparkles Monthly - Spring
Pearly Sparkles - Flowers

Hoping everyone is safe and well in their part of blogland. Thanks for calling in - I really appreciate your visits. x

Inky Shimmers!

This being able to relax at home lark is definitely very good for the card output. I suffered dreadfully last year as even when I managed a few days at home I couldn't think of anything creative at all - and on the rare occasions that I did I was too tired to do it!

But my card stash is building up nicely and I had a play today making a few cards with ocean themes. Be rude not to play with the stash bought last week wouldn't it?!

I also bought a magazine (a rarity for me) as it had some sea themed stamps and dies as a freebie.
This is a make not for the charity box but for me to use myself.

I bought some Distress Oxides (to start off my collection - LOL 😉😉). I confess I like them very much so need to get some more!

Cracked Pistachio and Mermaid Lagoon here on watercolour card.

The little seahorse was coloured using Mermaid Lagoon and Tropic Blue Cosmic Shimmer Powder. He's really shimmery in real life!
Added a bit of gold embossing and a few dew drops. (Strange thing about this die is that last week I bought a stamp set that has a seahorse on - facing the other way- so maybe I will use them both together soon!)

The sentiment is by Sweet Dixie (another set bought last week!) stamped with Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink not Oxide.
I distressed the edges then matted onto another piece of card which had distressed edged gold embossing.
This is one of those rare cards that I am REASONABLY happy with - although I maybe should have put it on Kraft cardstock and not white (?) -  TOO LATE NOW!!

Thanks for looking today! x

Sharing my little seahorse with -

PB&More - Feature a creature

Craft Rocket - Something New

Creative Knockouts - Die Cuts

Create and Inspire- Anything Goes 

The Card Concept - Inspiration Pic

Wish......

A mammoth post!
Owing to lack of time, it's been a while since I have been able to join in over at CAS Mix Up.
Even though I am trying to expand into other inkiness (see post below!) I promised myself that I would support CAS Mix Up challenges whenever I could.
I was however tempted to run a mile from this months challenge! Acetate? Acetate???? Seriously??? Me and the transparent stuff have a Love/Hate relationship... 😖

But cos it's their second birthday and I promised - I made myself do it. In fact I did 2. 
And if I thought using Acetate was difficult, taking a decent pic was nigh on impossible!

But here it is.
I actually used a white linen textured card base  but it looks - well- not quite white here.

I had a small piece of watercolour card so it got the Pixie Powder treatment. (Am loving these Cosmic Shimmer Pixie Powders - the irridescent effect is fab in real life)
The colour I used here is called Plum Twist.

I took my acetate, and stamped the single dandelion  (a Lavinia Stamp) then heat embossed in white.
The sentiment is one of my favourites and I have had it a while - also heat embossed in white.
I attached it by a single glue dot placed in the middle of the dandelion head!

After trimming the panel, I had a teeny bit left over - hence the punched butterfly and topped this with acetate too before adding the little blingy.

As well as Cas Mix Up (Stamping/Acetate/Heat Embossing) am also popping into the Playground with my little snippet of watercolour card, also sharing at ATS&M - Make your Mark and Just Add Ink where the challenge is Add Water.
Second card coming up.......

My second effort used a whole sheet of acetate. If I thought the first card was hard to photograph - let me tell you - Acetate and Mirri - a recipe for disaster!
I ended up putting two pieces of white card behind it so that you could see that it is just made from acetate!

This was a simple card to make but I am pleased with it.

Stamping then embossing with Metallic Platinum in two corners using an old flourish stamp and a simple  Inkylicious sentiment embossed onto dark blue card.(Although it looks black - it IS dark Blue!)
Matted onto silver mirri and placed on the front.

A slightly larger blue and silver panel on the inside back - to write on!
A couple of punched out mirri card hearts finished this card which I thought might be nice for an engagement or anniversary.

Sorry this was another picture heavy post but if you're still reading then thanks for bearing with me- I appreciate you visiting. xx

Sharing at -
PDE Linky  - Emboss
Sisterhood of Crafters - CAS
Card Mania - Embossing
Creatalicious - A/goes

Fly me to the Moon!

On Sunday morning dear husband took me to a local papercraft show. Only small but two of my favourite companies were there so  obviously I had a rather large spend.😳

Still it's been 5 years since I went to a show so I decided that if I spread what I'd spent over the last 5 years worth of shows it worked out at not a lot at all.....😀

Couldn't wait to get home to try out some of the new stash and so have two cards to share today so this is a picture heavy post.

I absolutely had to have these stamps!
The sentiment just jumped out at me.
All the stamps are of course by Inkylicious.

Stamped the moon with Tumbled Glass DI then masked. Sky colours used were Stormy Sky, Weathered Wood (DI) and Shaded Lilac (Oxide).

Hills were Shaded Lilac and Hickory Smoke (Oxide) and Weathered Wood/ Pumice Stone (DI).
Stamps are Bare Branches, Moon Detail and of course the sentiment, all inked with Black Versamark.

I edged the panel with Black Soot DI then matted onto black card.
I aimed to create a 'moody atmospheric' scene with these colours and am happy with the finished card - maybe a nice one to send to a man?

At the show there was a sample card done with really vibrant shades so I tried to replicate the colours. I am sharing this second card over at Time Out where the challenge is BOLD

Ink colours - Picked Raspberry/Carved Pumpkin/Spiced Marmalade for the sky
Squeezed Lemonade/Wild Honey/Picked Raspberry/Seedless Preserve for the hills.

A bit more stamping here too with more birds and the branches round the edges then the edge of the card sponged with Black Soot.
Think this one with it's lush colours would be perfect to send to a lady!

It's not often that I make more than one card of a very similar design but as you may have gathered by now I LOVE this sentiment stamp!
Some of my DT teamies at Stamping Sensations are awesome at scenes and are encouraging me to do more - SO I HAVE!!! LOL 


Also Sharing  over at
Crafters Castle - A/Goes with fave technique (and at the mo my fave is Ink Blending!)
Use Your Stuff - A/Goes
Creative Crafters - A/Goes
MIUCB #11 - A/Goes/Create your own background
Library Challenge - The Hobbit (Inspired by the moon and mountains on the book cover)

Well if you've made it all the way to the end of this mammoth post - THANK YOU!!!
Hope all is well in your part of blogland.
Have a great day. x

Forest Friends

The March challenge at Stamping Sensations is for a project entitled 'Forest Friends'.
TALK ABOUT OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE!
Thanks to the teamie who thought this one up....... !!!
I am rubbish at scenes (unlike some of the others on the DT who are awesome - go look on the blog post) - but I thought it was time I tried  instead of just doing something CAS with lots of white space- so here is my offering for the DT this month

I can hear you saying right away - "there's a big space in the middle" - yes there is - I intend to put a sentiment of some sort in there when I've decided what the sentiment is going to be!!

This card was actually my third attempt - but hey ho at least I finished it.
Distress Inks used - Stormy Sky, Shabby Shutters, Old Paper for the background.
Trees are from Inkadinkadoo
Animals and Birds stamps are a mix from Card-io and Creative Expressions, coloured with Rusty Hinge, Fired Brick, Brushed Corduroy and Tea Dye.

A reasonable attempt for something I am not confident with!
Please do go and visit the blog and look at some of the inspiring work created by those who do scenes better than me!
Another good prize up for grabs this month - from the fabulous Tattered Lace - and who wouldn't want to win???
Just remember - we are a stamping challenge!!!

I am joining in over at
Crafty Animals - A/Goes with animals
2 Crafty Critter Crazies - A/Goes with a critter
Creative Crafters - A/Goes

Thanks for visiting me today - hope all is well with you whatever you're doing! x

Stars

Have spent this week relaxing at home after a busy weekend (more at bottom of post).
We are currently under rather a lot of snow up here on the top of the moors - thought about going out for a few bits of shopping this morning but when I opened the front door about 18inches of snow was stacked up against it! Even if I'd made it down to the bottom of the hill there was no way I'd have got back up! Made a hasty retreat back indoors, heating turned up and donned the PJ's for the rest of the day.
So never one to miss an opportunity to make messy here is today's share!

Wanted to have a go at these 'galaxy' backgrounds for a while - and I can tell you I enjoyed it (even though my first 2 attempts were pretty rubbish).
Lots of inkiness - Squeezed Lemonade, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserve, Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot.

Fingers dipped in some water and dripped randomly across, then once dry some white acrylic paint mixed with a little water and silver Cosmic Shimmer loaded onto a paintbrush and flicked across.

Left to dry then some white embossing. The big star was a cheapie one and the sentiment and star clusters were freebies.
Matted onto black before onto the white card base.
Quite happy!
Joining in at
ATS&M - A/Goes
Make My Monday - Messy backgrounds
Time Out - BOLD
PIP #1808 - A/Goes
Use your stuff- Movies (2001 A Space Odyssey)

So - following on from the ladies in November, this weekend it was the men's turn to have their National Dinner and Presentation on Saturday night in Coventry.

An emotional night, my final speech in front of more than 300 people(😳) as National President. Chain of office then handed over and I have a slightly easier job now for the next year as the Immediate Past where although I will be still doing a bit of travelling, I will be there in a supporting role and not in the limelight!

Pic is of me and my lovely man - and of course the long frock! (heels lasted only 4 hours - the dinner, my speech then the presentation -  then spent the rest of the night barefoot!)

I have had an amazing year, I am tired but would not have missed it for anything.
Met some wonderful people and have been overwhelmed by the warmth and friendship extended to me everywhere.
The icing on the cake was to have raised over £8,800 for my charity 'Prevent Breast Cancer', which is based in Manchester.

I am sharing the last few sentences of my speech here with my blogging buddies -  it sums up everything I think -

"Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish – but you can spend it only once. Every moment matters. Seize every opportunity you have and embrace every experience.

In the end we only regret the chances we didn’t take.

Thank you for the opportunity you gave Graham and I to have our big adventure and to have had the privilege of representing Bowls England as your President.

I would not have missed it for the world.

I won’t be sad because it’s over, I will smile because it HAPPENED!"