Gilded

I haven't played with Gilding Flakes for a while - mainly because I am messy at the best of times and gilding flakes are really not something I should be allowed to get my hands on.😳

I did though manage not to have too much of the stuff floating about the place this time - a minor miracle!

I have used both of these stamps before (card is HERE) but thought I would try the flakes with the same stamps to see what it looked like.

The verdict is - not too bad at all considering I am a 'flaky' novice!

The bird house is a really old stamp from Chocolate Baroque formerly Elusive Images.

I decided at the time that adding more foliage was probably a step too far as no doubt I wouldn't have got it positioned right but on reflection maybe I should have been brave as the bird house does look a little lonely on just a gold line drawn thread.....

And typical me - the black card I used wasn't big enough for my normal size makes so the gold strip was added - which I think finishes it better - so happy necessity!
Am sharing over at
Use Your Stuff - Add Gold
TTPH - CAS
Retro Rubber - Anything Goes
Thanks for looking today - I appreciate you coming to my blog! x

Big!

 I recently acquired an Indigo Blu big butterfly stamp. Have actually used it - and more than once!

The Brushos were out on the desk top as I have used them for another project which will be shared in a couple of weeks time.
I stamped and heat embossed the butterfly before fussy cutting.

I thought that if I cut off the body (psycho tendencies 😈😈- LOL) on one side this meant that I could use the other side complete with body to make another card.....😊

Once the embossed wing was dry I looked for a suitable matching purple ink shade and simply stamped the whole butterfly onto the card base.
A few Brusho spatters and a die cut sentiment dipped in the wet brusho residue on the craft mat - it made for quite a quick card and one for my own stash box!

Work has continued here outside. We have extended the existing patio (those flags were HEAVY!) and rebuilt the dismantled raised bed in the shadiest part of the garden right outside the kitchen window- it's now filled with lush shade loving plants which cheer me up when I am washing up!

Still a bit to do planting up a new border and the all important water sculpture installation - which are jobs to be tackled over the next few weeks - dear husband is prone to reminding me that
'we're not as young as we used to be so everything takes a bit longer'! (Like I needed to hear that.......😒)
Sharing my bodyless butterfly at
TIOT - Butterfly
Dragonfly Dreams - Butterfly

Thanks for stopping by - hope all is well in your part of blogland! x

Wall

We've had some nice dry days recently so the work has continued in the garden and the craft desk has been sat at infrequently.

But I did do a couple of makes and tidying away the usual mess I make (yes I am keeping the new room tidy 😉), I thought I would use the Gesso again before it got consigned back to the cupboard after being inspired by Pinterest.

I have quite a lot of stencils - I have decided I have to start using them more - I buy them, look at them and then they just get filed away!

I have a couple of brick wall stencils but this one is a large one from Clarity.

I started by inking my background in shades of Antique Linen, Victorian Velvet and Seedless Preserve.

Once dry I simply randomly applied the gesso through the stencil.
A bit of random stamping along the bottom and one of my fave sentiments using Memento Sweet Plum
Job done!

Sharing over at TIOT whose challenge this time is Use a Stencil, and over at Colourful Options the challenge is Pretty in Pink.
Hope all is OK in your part of blogland and will get round to catching up with you all soon! x