Friends

One of the amazing things about Blogland for me has been the number of lovely people who have come into my world and stayed there.
Even though there are many I have never met I feel very lucky to have all these people in my life, they are generous, supportive, encouraging and I count them all among my friends.

My share today is for Loll.  

I mailed her a different birthday card which I hope she has received by now, but this is one I made especially for her for our CAS 'on-line birthday share'.
Once again though I am disappointed with the pic as it simply doesn't show the dimension or colours in a true reflection!

This is a Lisa Horton 3d embossing folder called Bold Blooms inked with shades of pink and lilac.

The sentiment is white heat embossed on vellum.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOLL. x

We have had some very hot days recently but it is more normal temperatures now - and with the normal temps has of course come the rain - which although irritates me, it made the garden and my pots happy!
I hope the sun is shining in your part of blogland. x

Sharing my card over at
Inkspirational - prompt word is Precious (which is what my blogging buddies are to me)
Alphabet - F for Friendship
Just Add Ink - Flowers
CYHTP - A/goes

Sparkly Flower

Whilst doing my DT makes for the CAS Mix Up challenge of 'Gels and Pastes', I made a couple more so this one is destined to be added to our gallery which is full of gorgeous creations!
(I'll share the others I made at some point.)

I love this floral spray stencil from Honey Doo - it comes as a pair - this smaller one and a really large one big enough to fill a DL card (which I have - twice!!)

I used another Honey Doo stencil for the background and inked lightly in pastel colours.

The floral spray was done using Glitter Kiss paste which is amazingly sparkly and I love it!
Finished with a gold embossed sentiment.

I am though having a lot of bother trying to find somewhere inside the new place to get decent pics, eventually I will find somewhere that isn't full of shadows or is that bright everything looks ice blue white!

We've had some beautiful weather the last few days - fingers crossed we get more of the same!

Hope the sun is shining in your part of blogland and thanks for looking. x

CAS Christmas - June

I was happy to see that CAS Christmas has also re-started this month after the CAS challenges extended break. It really helps me with the Christmas card stash!

The challenge this time is 'Wreath'.
To make my card I drew a circle with a green watercolour pencil then used a very small ferny branch stamp inked in Versamagic Aloe Vera, over-stamping it lots of times round the pencil drawn circle.

I had another tiny pine branch stamp and added a few random stampings in Sage Green to try and give some variety - Looking back maybe I should have alternated them round the circle as they don't show up too well in the pic but too late now! 
Both of these tiny stamps were free in a magazine some time ago - and as is usual this is the first time they've seen ink.

The candle was a bit of an experiment which didn't turn out too bad. Nuvo Crystal Drops filled in a hand drawn candle - and in real life it actually looks like wax - so a plus!

Red Nuvo used to create a few berries and some gold glitter for the candle flame with an SU sentiment to finish.

I used some ivory hammered cardstock for this make and to be honest it really doesn't photograph very well but thanks for looking.
I'll be back in a couple of days as I have been having a fun time  making messy with pastes and stencils which are our current CAS Mix Up challenge! (If you scroll down you'll see what I have done so far!)
Hope all is well in your part of blogland. x

CAS Mix Up Mid Month Reminder

 Mid way through June and here's my reminder post for CAS Mix Up!

The challenge this time has been set by Loll and is a Stencil one using 'Gels and/or Pastes'. I really hope you can join us if you've not already done so and don't forget to make your entry CAS!

I used a colour combo that I've seen several times before and it just appealed to me! Rocket Red and Peacock Feathers are not colours I would normally put together but I think they work well!

I used gesso for my stencil and once the gesso had dried I re-applied the stencil and sponged over it. Did a couple of random watercolour splodges with the Peacock Feathers D.Ox.

The flower is by Visible Image, stamped, coloured and fussy cut. Was a bit fiddly but managed it!

We've some lovely cards in our gallery - hope you are there too!

Thanks for looking! x
PS - Thank you to everyone who sent me cards and messages today, I've had a lovely birthday!

It's a man thing!

 Hands up those who like making 'man' cards........ mmmmmm thought so - not many of you is there?!  And I am with you keeping my hands firmly by my side - but - whilst you're in the mood (and trust me I wasn't to begin with), you have to go with the flow so here it is

I cut a piece of heavy cardstock to the exact size of the Tim Holtz 'Alterations' embossing folder.

I inked it up with Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage, Antique Linen and Rusty Hinge randomly to start then spritzed with water before running through the Big Shot.
Left it to dry out a bit.

Rubbed over the top of the impression lightly with Vintage Photo and Brushed Corduroy, being careful (for once!) not to press down too hard as I only wanted the clock faces highlighted!

Chopped the panel into 3 pieces, matted on gold mirri card and mounted onto dark brown cardstock.
A gold heat embossed sentiment to finish and one man card done!

Sharing over at
TIOT - Man in your Life
Let's Squash It - Make it Manly
Alphabet - E for Emboss
Crafty Friends - Men
CYHTP - A/Goes

We have had a sunny weekend here but it has been very windy - good for drying the washing but not so much for the hair!
Hope the sun has shined where you are and thank you for looking! x

CAS MIX UP JUNE CHALLENGE

 CAS Mix Up is back this month after our extended break. The challenge this time has been set by Loll and is a Stencil one using 'Gels and/or Pastes'. I really hope you can join us and don't forget to make your entry CAS!

I started by using a masked off square and lightly inked using Twisted Citron blending outwards, then took another stencil and lightly brushed shades of pink and green round the square.

My Cherry Blossom stencil is by Indigo Blu. I wanted a shiny effect for the blossom so used some heavy structure gel first which dries clear but leaves a raised impression.

Once dry I sponged (very carefully!) a deep pink over the flowers and a light brown for the branches.

Finished with a few Gold Pearl drops for the flower centres.

It has a wonderful shine in real life and although it doesn't show very well in the photo, the structure gel has given a good dimension.

The sentiment is from Stampin Up.

There are some gorgeous makes from my buddies on the DT over at the challenge blog and our guest designers Jules and Darnell. I am looking forward to seeing your creations in our gallery too!
Linking up at
A2S+M - Stencils
Thanks for looking today! x