Ellie's 2023 in Review

Second post from me today -
As 2023 draws to a close (and to be honest the way things have been the last few weeks it can't come soon enough!) it's time for the annual Year in Review hosted by Ellie - the link is HERE
Sharing a card from each month of the year - If you want to read the corresponding post just click on the month! The December  make was added in another post earlier today so please have a look!

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Happy New Year.  x

Snow Storm

3 weeks before Christmas and Mojo packed his bag and went on his Christmas Holidays!
 
I have discovered it is very difficult to be creative or concentrate when other things are happening around you so at this year's end I want to say thanks for inspirational crafters without who nothing would have been made this festive season! This scene was inspired by a lady called Laura Foster.

There's something about ink blending that I find calming - I like to experiment with colours and see the card background being transformed.

Inks used here were Victorian Velvet, Spun Sugar, Squeezed Lemonade, Lost Shadow and Hickory Smoke.

The holly leaves were stamped using Memento Potters Clay.

I was quite pleased with how Foxy turned out eventually - he was stamped first in Versacolour Bark, then the edges of the stamp were inked with Versafine Clair Nocturne.

Highlighted him with a white gel pen and a black Aquarelle pencil.

Highlighted the snowdrifts with Posca pen and of course I then had to 'spatter attack' the whole piece!

Thanks to everyone who has continued to visit my blog during 2023 and I hope to see you all here again in 2024.
I wish you and all those you care about a very happy and healthy New Year. x

Wishes

There has been a lot of personal stuff going on here over the last few weeks which has left little time for blogging or Christmas preparations.

I am really sorry I have been unable to visit you all in the run up to the big event of the year and hopefully this will change in the not too distant future - not least because I need a little bit of R and R and calling into blogland is one of my most relaxing things to do and I do love to see what everyone has created.

Thank you to all my blogging buddies who have sent me beautiful cards and messages too.
 Here is a simple white embossed Penny Black stamp coloured with watercolours with a heartfelt sentiment to wish you all a wonderfully peaceful and happy Christmas surrounded by those that you love wherever you are in the World. x

More Purple!

 I notice that I've not posted many Christmas cards this year - I have made some but most days the lighting here hasn't been good for pics! Anyway, most are now written and posted so there's only a few cards I can show!

I had some lilac and purple shades out on the desk after making the card for the Card Chain Challenge (post below) so before I had a tidy up I made another.
I used Oxides for this one - Wilted Violet and Shaded Lilac for the sky, masking off the moon circle first then some water splatters.
I removed the mask and gave it  a quick light dust over with the Lilac.

I have an Inkylicious moon stamp which has the cloud drifts so inked it with Wilted Violet DI and stamped.  Was pleased with the result.

The snowdrifts were done using Lost Shadow ink.

My Lavinia foxes are very well used and I used a white pen round his body - still practicing with this but I don't think he looks too bad overall altho I was a little heavy handed!

The branches were stamped in Purple, Metallic Silver and Brilliance White - I heat embossed the white then did the same with the bauble.
A few stamped twiggy bits and finished!

Thanks for looking. I hope everyone is well and not getting too panicked about Christmas approaching! I am feeling quite organised this year for a change! x

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

Sing A Song at TIOT

New challenge day at Try It On Tuesday - and the theme this time is 'Sing a Song' - so find a song you like and make something reflecting your tune!

OR -
you can do what I did and do something really random!
Whilst looking for another stamp set I saw this Cardio set called 'High Flyers' - It triggered off a song in my head and I showed my age by singing the chorus of it (and it's been driving me nuts ever since!)

The song is - of course-  'Lets Go Fly A Kite' from Mary Poppins.
I had a red kite when I was a child and my Uncle took me to the local sand dunes to fly it - a lovely childhood memory!

I made my little scene using all Cardio stamps from a few sets - Beach Trail, Beside the Sea and Flipping Out (don't you just LOVE Flip-flops!) as well as the High Flyers set.

I did some gentle ink blending using chalk inks which give a much softer effect than Distress ones to create my sandy beach and sea and (although it doesn't show very well in the pic) the sky - which is a very pale blue with a watery sun - cos not all days on the beach are hot and sunny!

I added some white posca pen to highlight the little ripples as the sea reached the shore and underneath the pier.
I hope the little boy enjoyed flying his kite as much as I used to do! 
Thanks for visiting me today - please have a look on the challenge blog and see what the rest of the team have come up with - and hopefully you'll join our challenge this time round!

Guest Designer - Fairy and Unicorn Challenge Blog

 I was delighted to have been selected as the winner for a recent challenge over at the Fairy and Unicorn Challenge Blog - (winning card is here if you've not seen it!) and was invited to be their Guest Designer for this month.

I have a bit of an Ocean thing going on at the mo and fortunately the challenge blogs'  challenges are always 'Anything Fantasy Goes'  so whilst I had all the necessary colours out on the desk (from my previous card!) I used them!

It's called       
'There's More Than One of ME??'
as Zelith and her fishy friends discover she is not the only Mermaid in the ocean and now she has someone else to swim with - if she can catch her up!

I intend to frame this eventually hence it has been left blank of any greeting. I may (or may not) add something (perhaps a small seahorse or jelly fish) to the top right before framing it!

Lots of inky blending and spattering and stamping (as my blue and green fingers will testify to!).

I used Versamagic Ocean Depth, Versafine Clair Verdant and Warm Breeze for all the sea foliage, bubbles, tiny fish etc and Nocturne for the main images.

I coloured Zelith with Oxides Twisted Citron and Salty Ocean then liberally applied Blue and Green Wink of Stella pens.
The tail of her new found friend was coloured in Picked Raspberry and Cracked Pistachio and I used Candyfloss Stickles and green Wink of Stella.

No self respecting mermaid can be seen without lots of sparkle and shimmer can they so liberal helpings of both. I was really pleased with how this turned out - but - as with all things blingy it was a bit of an effort to get a decent pic!
All stamps are of course Lavinia.

Thanks to Fairy and Unicorn for inviting me and thanks to you for looking!

July Card Chain Challenge Reveal

I sent my card to my lovely blogging friend Hilary this month and received one from Marianne in Greece!.
When I saw the sign up post at Card Chain Challenge I knew straight away that this month I wouldn't be following the colour option like normal - one of the themes tied right in with a NBUS purchase.
Some time back I bought several 'sea/ocean' themed stamps from Lavinia - and have been slowly adding to the collection so the 'Fishes' theme was perfect for me to use 'Flo' (she's the big fish! I already had the smaller one)

Flo and her smaller versions were stamped with Versafine Clair Monarch ink, as were the Sea Urchins.
I masked them off and then built up the background with Distress Oxides Mermaid Lagoon, Bundled Sage, Salty Ocean and spattered with water. I love the way Oxides react with water!

Lots of foliage stamping followed, using more stamps from the Lavinia collection in Versafine Clair Shady Lane, Verdant and Monarch and once dry I removed the masks and water coloured the Sea Urchins.

Stamping was finished with the bubbles in Versacolour Turquoise and the sentiment in Monarch.
Flo and entourage were given a liberal helping of yellow Wink of Stella, and I used clear Wink of Stella on the Urchins too so it does have a bit of a shimmery look in real life!

There's still time to sign up if you fancy joining in!
Sharing over at
NBUS #53
Use Your Stuff - 3 Item Cluster (my 3 fish!)
ATS+M - Make your Mark

Pretty Papers at TIOT

 New challenge time at Try It On Tuesday!
Theme is 'PRETTY PAPERS', so we want to see paper somewhere on your project!

Like so many crafters I bought papers and liked them too much to use - so I made a promise not to buy any more and for several years now I have stuck to that promise.

I sent lots to the local charity shop and gave boxes away to a local school - but I kept just a few that were just too precious to part with. (That 'precious' none of them have seen the light of day for years and the paper box was under a ton of stuff in a cupboard!)

I remembered making a card very similar to this a long time ago so rooted about in the paper box and found these beautiful pink themed heavy textured papers - it is that long ago I have no idea where they came from.

I stitched them onto the card base after sticking some lace across the join.

My 'rose' centre is made from lots of tissue paper and a spellbinders flower die, fiddly to cut and assemble together but worth it I think.

A scrap of lace and a piece of pink card cut with the largest flower die helped me secure the layers together with a pearl brad in the centre and through a die cut label.
Sentiment and a tiny butterfly inked in pale pink to finish it all off.

Having not done anything remotely lacey and shabby for a while it was a change to do this and not get my fingers in an inky mess!

Please pop over to the blog and check out what our Guest Designer and the rest of the team have done - we all love visitors! And of course as always I hope you will join us with your paper projects!

Blooms

 Perfect weather for the craft room - monsoon type conditions and heavy grey skies! A stark contrast to Europe who are in the grips of the most horrendous heat!

I have been playing about with black card recently - here is one I did a couple of days ago using an Altenew stamp set.

It was quite quick to do really - I spent more time messing about wondering how to place it on a UK card size than actually stamping and colouring!

Being a US company the frame is designed to fit on an A2 (?? I think??) card - a size that I have never used and is not one that you see a lot of here in the UK.

Stamped and heat embossed in gold then used metallic watercolours. I am loving these watercolours - the card has an incredible shimmer.
The sentiment is also part of the same set.

Once dry, I mounted it onto a piece of gold mirri card and ended up (after much debate) simply putting it centrally onto another piece of black card. It didn't look right on a white base, didn't fit properly on a 6 x 4, nor on a 5 x 5, looked daft on a 6 x 6 and at one point I was beginning to be sorry I had started in the first place!
Anyway to steal one of my Mum's sayings - "It'll do for now"!!!

Sharing over at
Beautiful Blossoms - A/Goes w/flowers
Creative Crafters - A/Goes
Crafty Addicts - A/Goes

Thanks for looking today - wherever you are in the world I hope you are safe and well. x

Framed

 Had a few odd bits of card lying about and used them up to make this after seeing something similar some time ago.
Then had THE most dreadful job trying to get a good picture!

The frame was cut from a piece smooshed with Iced Spruce Distress Ink.

The leaf die had a slight sponging of Bundled Sage across it and it toned well with the frame altho it doesn't show up that good in this pic!

Just added a simple stamped sentiment.

A quick CAS card and I think I might try a few more in different muted shades as I like the simplicity of it and think it could be used for lots of things with different sentiments.

Sharing over at
The Flower Challenge #82 - CAS
Sweet Stampin' - Flowers
SCS - CAS
ATS+M - Die cuts

We have had some very heavy showers the last few days and the garden is grateful! So am I - cos it meant I didn't have to water the pots!

Have a great weekend whatever you're doing. x

Totally Tropical - 3 Colours at Try It On Tuesday

Our new challenge gets underway at Try It On Tuesday today -  and it is to use 3 colours.
I chose Green, Yellow and Orange for my card.

It's not too often I make a tall slimline card.
Started with a stencil monoprint - oh I do love doing these!

Smooshing ink on a stencil, spraying with water and pressing down onto card - there's something very satisfying about seeing how the print turns out and no two are ever the same!

Mowed Lawn and Fossilized Amber on a tropical leaf stencil from Honey Doo.

I die cut some foliage and a flower and watercoloured in the same shades on some snippets of watercolour card, the flower centre was coloured with Spiced Marigold DI.

A scrap of lime card white heat embossed with the sentiment and job done!

Thought this make was quite apt at the mo as we've been experiencing some really summery days recently - although we've had a few thunderstorms and torrential downpours too!

Thanks for stopping by - hope you will pop over to the TIOT blog and see what the rest of the DT have to inspire you and - of course- hope you will join us this fortnight.

Happy Crafting. x

June Card Chain Challenge Reveal

My make for the June Card Chain Challenge went to Patricia in Texas and I received a lovely card from Gundi in Germany too - so thanks again! x

Once again I opted for the colour challenge and managed to add in the product option of Lace.

Using cream base card instead of the usual white I stamped the lavender image (Technique Tuesday) and coloured the flower heads with Picked Raspberry Oxide.

The background stencil is one of my most go to stencils and as I've now lost the packaging I've no idea which make!

Stencil ink blending was a combo of Spun Sugar and Picked Raspberry.

Added a piece of cream lace and some pink/cream twine then popped the floral spray onto a mat of Picked Raspberry inked card before putting it onto the main card.

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

Thanks for looking today - hope all is well in your part of blogland! x