Are you sure this is August??

 Yesterday was spent hunkered down indoors - as always here on the top we get slightly stronger winds than those who live at lower levels and it is something that we have come to be accustomed to over the winter months but my goodness yesterday was to put it frankly - RIDICULOUS!!
IT IS AUGUST🌞⛱ NOT NOVEMBER!🌀⛈ The rain was horizontal and the winds were just plain daft. Our barns are down a small private road and we have about 20 yards to the roadway where we leave the bins on collection day - collection done and dear husband went to get his coat to bring them in - as he walked outside 6 emptied bins (ours and all our neighbours) decided to take off - some going up the rest of the hill and some going down. He was so wet by the time he retrieved them he had to change all his clothes and the air was - a little - blue!

So here's a share for today - I saw this simple technique and as it is one I have not tried I gave it a go. Can't say whether I like it or not really!

I don't have a lot of shades of Distress Oxides which is what the demo used but I have a few shades of Memento Versacolor which is a pigment ink so used that.
It's just simple ink blending onto black cardstock and I thought it crazy that I had not done it before, not least to see if I liked it!

I used a stencil from Funky Fossil and 2 shades of blue and 1 lilac .

The Inkylicious sentiment always cheers me up, simple white heat embossed and a few enamel dots.

I did another and used pink and turquoise inks, silver embossing for the sentiment and silver mat behind but I liked that one even less!

I think because they are 'dark'  cards and it is such a change for me, that may be the reason I am not overwhelmed!
The Jury is still out as to if I will do this again but I would be interested to know your thoughts and if you've done this- is it something you like?!

As for these 2 they will just sit in the stash box - maybe I will find a use for them at some point- then again maybe not!

Thanks for calling in today - I know elsewhere in the World there are storms and all kinds of other troubles, pandemic included (we're still in local lockdown!), so stay safe and I send you all a hug! x

Far from the Madding Crowd

We're still under local restrictions. And no sign of it abating. I am finding it very difficult to not get angry with those who think they can just do as they want - for example 100 people at a wedding indoors and less than a week later approx 200 people caught by a Police helicopter's infra red camera at a garden party.  Words fail me.

The 'Beach' challenge is still ongoing at CAS Mix Up so I am adding this to the gallery which has some beautiful beachy inspired makes so far and there is still a couple of days left if you want to come and join us!

I've had this stamp for a while and it's never seen ink. When I looked at it, I thought how perfect it would be to be miles away from all the madness that is currently going on especially here where I live.
Far from the Madding Crowd indeed.

The pic quality is poor I am afraid, the sky is a pale sunkissed blue which doesn't show up at all. I clear embossed after stamping.

We have had some very strong winds the last few days - yesterday was bright and sunny though today is rather wet!

Outside I have been nurturing a Stargazer Lily in a pot and it had grown nearly as tall as me and just begun to flower when the strong winds arrived.
On Wednesday morning it was lying face down on the patio having been blown over and looking very sad. Graham went and picked it up and brought it inside - it is now in my lounge- (well away from walls and furniture) - but it has rewarded me by completely bursting into bloom!
The scent is obviously overpowering but I am real pleased as being up here on the top keeping flowers is a bit of a challenge to say the least, if it's not the rain it's strong winds even in summer and mostly a combination of both! 

Sharing my card with -

MMM - On the Beach
Country View - Seaside

Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Stamping Sensations - August Mid Month Reminder

Our 'Make It Masculine' challenge at Stamping Sensations is now at the half way point but there's still time for you to join in.

This was one of 2 commissioned cards for a motorbike fan - safe to post cos he isn't here on blogland!

I used the same digital bike stamp for both, opting to keep this one uncoloured and let it pop from the ink blended background.

If you visit the challenge blog you will be able to see all the lovely makes from the rest of the Stamping Sensations team and also see what a fab prize have on offer for you this month.

Please remember though we are a stamping challenge and stamping MUST be the focal point of the entry that you link up.

Happy Crafting! x

CAS Mix Up August Mid Month

Time for my mid month post for CAS Mix Up! It's Watercolour time this month and our challenge theme has been set by Loll which is 'BEACH'.

I stamped the bottle image (which was part of a freebie set some time ago) and heat embossed first before watercolouring with my watercolour paints.

A simple stitched die and mounted onto a hammer textured card base. I wish I could draw and watercolour freehand but no chance so it's stamping and colouring for me!)

We are happy to have as our Guest Designer

 Brenda (Inkspired to Stamp)

 

There are already some great cards in the gallery and we look forward to seeing yours if you've not already linked in!

Face

 I think many areas of the UK have been having really high temperatures the last couple of days - I am wondering where the person who used to be able to sit out and toast herself all day has disappeared to! I am afraid that me and hot don't seem to mix anymore! So when it has got too hot for me I have retreated to the craftie space and turned on the fan.

This is another make using the lovely Face profile stencil from Funky Fossil.

This time  I heat embossed it in white and then created an inky background using Cracked Pistachio and Peacock Feathers DI's.

Some random stamping using various odd stamps in the same shades and a triple die cut in white to complete the sentiment.

I have been devoid of inspiration recently - I don't suppose the ongoing situation is helping. We are in an area that has had further restrictions imposed so we can't even pretend that things are becoming normal! I am still struggling wearing a face mask on the very rare occasions when I do venture into a shop and am finding it very difficult to accept that wearing for the forseeable future is the new norm. (I know it's better than the alternative but it doesn't make it any easier!) 

I hope everyone is safe and well out in blogland and thanks for visiting today. x

Linking to -  Inkspirational who has the word prompt - 'Face'   and to Tuesday Throwdown where the challenge is to Use a Stencil

Just Beachy

I originally made this card for the challenge at CAS Mix Up which is a watercolour one with the theme of  'Beach'.

But when I'd finished it I decided that the watercoloured panel which was a die cut piece lying on the desk, was too big and there wasn't a lot of white space left so did other cards for the challenge!

This one is completely different to my launch card (which is here) - but I enjoyed trying my hand again at watercolouring a background!

When I was a child, my Mum used to take me to the beach as a rare treat - whenever I see a beach hut I always remember how I loved them then - with their bright colours standing like sentries in a row!

After watercolouring (and patting myself on the back because I managed to actually paint the fence freehand 😊) I did a little stamping to create mounds of sand and grass.

The beach huts were stamped, coloured then fussy cut all from small scraps of card! 

The (old had it years) distressed style sentiment stamp reminded me of driftwood and just seemed to sum up my feelings of the time spent with my Mum on warm sunny days in the sand.

Sharing over at

Little Red Wagon - Happy Days

Sisterhood of Crafters - Ocean/Beachy

Snippets Playground - #383

Thanks for looking today - and I hope you are having 'Happy Days' wherever you are! x

Stamping Sensations August Challenge

The dreaded 'MAN' cards are the challenge we have set for you this month at Stamping Sensations!
The challenge title is 'Make It Masculine' - so now is the time to make those cards so many of us find difficult and to swell your stash so you always have one on hand.

This heron stamp I have owned for a long time and it has never seen ink... (hangs head in shame), but I thought it would be a good image to use for a male themed card.

I also adore this sentiment- it is just perfect for someone who is very special to you don't you think?

I had fun getting inky  and was quite pleased with the background although maybe the reflected sun could have been a bit more precise but overall am happy with how it turned out.

The bamboo stamp is another old one (from when I was going through my 'Everything Asian' period.... - go on, I know we all did it)


I made my own mountain mask for this one too!

Please read our rules before you link up - we are a STAMPING challenge so stamping must be the focal point of your creation!  We have a brilliant prize this month too - pop over to the blog, check it out and make something masculine!

CAS Mix Up August Challenge

Time for our new challenge at CAS Mix Up and this month the challenge  is WATERCOLOUR and the theme set by Loll is 'BEACH'. 

These shell stamps don't get used nearly enough so I took the dust from them and stamped them onto some mixed media paper, heat embossing in white.

My Brushos also don't get used enough either so I used the Turquoise and Black on this card!
I sprinkled the Turquoise first  then sprayed with water and just watched as the colours appeared. I added a tiny sprinkling of Black here and there and sprayed again lightly.

The sentiment is an old one taken from another stamp.

We have  

 Brenda (Inkspired to Stamp)

     as our Guest designer this month and some beautiful cards made by the Design Team so please go visit!

Am also linking this to

MIUCB - Embossing

CAS on Friday - Summer

CRAFT - Summer

Sisterhood of Crafters - Ocean/Beachy

Thanks for stopping by today - have a great day whatever you're doing. x