Summertime at Try It On Tuesday

 How quickly time goes past - we're halfway through 2024! It's difficult to believe - don't know where the weeks go to!
Anyway, as it's Tuesday our challenge for the next two weeks at Try It On Tuesday is called 'Here comes Summer'.

There are many things that I relate to Summer. Ice Cream is one, Strawberries another, my flip flops and of course the scent from the flowers in the garden.

But nothing reminds me more of Summer than when I see a Beach Hut! There's something about them that conjure up visions of lazy days and I do have a memory of spending time in a beach hut on a summer holiday when I was a child.
That's probably why many years ago I bought this stamp. I have no idea who made it - it came in a set of 2 I think - the other is just a smaller beach hut with it's door closed.

Stamped, then masked and blended the background. I coloured the image with watercolour pencils.

The Inkylicious shoreline stamp was white heat embossed and the sentiment is from Card-io.

Thanks for looking today - hope you can find time to join us this challenge - please pay a visit to the rest of the DT, it's lovely to have you visit!  And I hope Summer has come wherever you are! x
Sharing over at
Hand Stamped Sentiments #441
MMM - Outdoor Summer Fun

May Card Chain Challenge Reveal

My May challenge card went to blogging buddy Carol here in the UK.
Using the colours and the option of a stencil from the technique list I made this!

The stencil was part of an unbranded pack - it's only small so I fiddled about with it re-positioning where I wanted.

I used Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet inks. Having tried lots of different colours I decided the violet was the nearest I had to Blueberry!


I ran a piece of card through a Vine embossing folder and lightly inked before die cutting my butterfly.
I really should have embossed after die cutting I think but the texture is still there even if it's a little flatter than I would have liked.

Using an embossing pen I heat embossed the body and antenna in gold and finished with a gold embossed sentiment.

This month I received the most stunning card from my clever friend Hilary - thank you again! x

There's still time to sign up for this month - pop over to the Card Chain Challenge blog if you fancy joining us!

Emboss It at Try It on Tuesday

This fortnight our challenge at Try it On Tuesday is 'EMBOSS IT'.

I made a background with Cracked Pistachio, Salty Ocean, and Twisted Citron inks.

I stencilled a couple of odd things on the background for some depth then used Salty Ocean to add a couple of random stamps (crackle, script)

I have had this big Indigo butterfly for a while and although it is quite a big stamp I really like it as you don't really need much else on the card front!

Triple white heat embossed then coloured it in using Distress Inks - adding Blueprint Sketch to the colours already used on the background.
The sentiment is from Clearly Besotted.

Other things have got in the way of my blogging recently and I have been unable to visit my blogging friends. I hope to stop by very soon and catch up with you all.

Thanks for looking today - please pay a visit to the Challenge blog and have a peek at what the others on the team have made this time round - and of course as always I hope you can find time to join us!
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Another Stencil and I.D.E.A.S

UPDATE 27TH MARCH -
Blogger decided to close our linky early on the challenge post and deleted everyone's entries!
If you've already entered we do have a record of your entry - if you've still to enter just link up as normal!

Our 'Use a Stencil' challenge at Try It On Tuesday has reached it's half way point of the fortnight tomorrow.

I needed a quick card for a friend who is definitely not into 'fussy, flowery and fancy' (her words not mine!) so made this.

It was intended to be a 'thinking of you' type of card without that exact sentiment if you understand me!

The stencil was inked with Twisted Citron.

The vases are from a Sizzix die set and I painted them with Distress Oxides - I watercoloured first then went over them using a dry brush to try and give some texture/depth. The orange one worked far better than the blue!

The stems were a gift from a friend and I cut them out with some Lime coloured card.

A simple quick CAS card - no frills or fussy just to let someone know if they were here I would give them a hug!

If you've not yet linked up to the challenge blog you still have another week to go!

Popping this over to Darnell's I.D.E.A.S link which this week is
'A is for Anything Goes' - and if you haven't a tickety boo what I am talking about all is revealed HERE on Dolly's blog!

Thanks for looking today. x

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

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

Keep It Simple at Try It On Tuesday

For the next two weeks our challenge theme at Try It On Tuesday is 'Keep It Simple'.
So a CAS card from me!

I smooshed a bit of watercolour card across some watery Mowed Lawn DI. One of my better results I thought!

Cut out with a stitched die and stamped some bamboo at one side. The bamboo stamp is years old and I think it's from Choc Baroque.

Added a thin stitched die frame on top as an experiment - didn't glue it at first!

I love Ginko leaves so when Inkylicious brought this set out I had to have it.  Stamped and fussy cut and then arranged them inside and outside the thin frame before glueing it all in place.

I was going to add another ginko on the top right but remembered I had a chinese writing stamp and a little bit of the smooshed piece left so used it up.

Finished it all off with a couple of little citrus green dots, using a bigger one to hide the overlap of the offcut bits!
For this make I used linen textured cardstock to give the background some interest.

Please go visit the challenge blog and see what the rest of the team have come up with this time!
Hope you can join us too and thanks for looking today. x

Reminder post - Try It On Tuesday - Use a Stencil

Mid way through our USE A STENCIL challenge at Try It On Tuesday.

Having made a card using my circles/bubbles die the waste was lying on the desk so I used it to make this!

Blending Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon and Peacock Feathers over the waste and overlapping to make sure it filled the entire side of the card.

Added a white heat embossed sentiment on a scrap of black card and a couple of teeny sequins.

Was really quick to do and is now in the 'man' stash box! (yes even with the sequins on it!)

Just a week left for you to come and join our challenge - hope to see you there! x

Hold On!

Been having a bit of inkiness the last couple of days whilst the weather has been so changeable. I've made a couple of cards and this one I am undecided as to whether it is finished or not!

It was though an absolute horror to photograph - I must have taken about 50 pics and wasn't happy with any of them.
None of the photos showed a true representation of the colours which are slightly muted nor any of the (liberal helping) of Wink of Stella.

Anyway here it is -
I started blending my background with Antique Linen then worked out using Stormy Sky, Weathered Wood and Hickory Smoke.

I masked off the trailing vines that Rue clings to on the stamp - this was a bit fiddly but happy with the way the image turned out.

I then white heat embossed several Dandelions and finally added some Spanish Moss Foliage in between the dandies, positioning them all from Rue's hand so she really is 'Hitchin' a Ride'!

I used lots of  clear Wink of Stella onto the dandies and dotted some about randomly before I coloured Rues wings with different colours.

Added some white spatters.

Am undecided as to how to complete it - jury is out between a sentiment or a Lavinia script stamp (second or third generation stamping) added down the side.
Shall put it to one side whilst I think about it!

Sharing Rue and her Dandy Flight over at
The Paper Shelter - Anything that Flies
Paper Funday - A/Goes with option of Flower Power (Rue is definitely powered by Flowers!)
Creative Inspiration - A/Goes

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

March Card Chain Challenge

 My card for this month's Card Chain Challenge made a mammoth journey to Suze in New Zealand! Thankfully it arrived before the end of the month!

The colours given were a bit tricky for me but I continued with my quest of using the colours and trying to combine with one of the other technique elements.
Fortunately the colours don't have to be exact so I used a lighter few shades interpretation of each colour and the 'Stamps' product option.

The vase of bright sunflowers is by Technique Tuesday.
It comes with a matching die although I cut this by hand as there was too much white outline for my liking!
Coloured with watercolours.

The wavy edge background panel was done blending Distress Inks Spiced Marmalade and Dried Marigold with a light brushing of Peeled Paint. I then simply watercoloured a few lines to 'ground' the vase.

The sentiment is from SU.
I received a lovely card from blogging buddy Pia in Norway too - so thank you Pia! x

There's time for you to join in our challenge for next month if you want to - simply pop over to the blog and check out how it works!

Magical

I was delighted to have been asked to contribute as a Guest Designer at Try It On Tuesday for their new challenge.

The challenge is set fortnightly and this time the theme is 'MAKE IT MAGICAL'.
My card is made using stamps from Lavinia and Inkylicious.

The background was blended using Stormy Sky at the bottom then graduating to Shaded Lilac for the 'hills'.

My sky was a mix of Spun Sugar and Shaded Lilac.

I resisted the temptation to keep adding flora and fauna in the blank space on the card as I didn't want to detract from our little man who was out for a stroll in his woodland home when he discovered this spotty flower - as with all naughty and curious boys he couldn't resist poking it with his finger!
 
The spots were dotted with a Posca pen and the fairy words stamped at the sides using Shaded Lilac DI.
I finished off with a few tiny white spatters concentrated towards the bottom of the card.

Thanks to the talented ladies at TIOT for having me and I hope you like my card!
Am sure they would love to see your magical creations in their link up too! x

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

November CAS Christmas

 It's time for the last challenge of the year over at CAS Christmas. Strange really as although I think for me the last couple of months have gone by slowly, but when I look back the year has gone!
This month's challenge is 'Christmas Critters'.

I don't have a lot of 'cute' stamps but I have one set from Penny Black called 'Holly Days' and I used one from that set for this make.

I ink blended my panel in shades of blue using a mask for the bottom. 

I transferred the mask to the base card and lightly inked along it to continue the hill.

Stamped our happy little soul and watercoloured him. Used a dot stencil and some sparkle paste for the 'snow'!
He makes me smile as he looks so pleased that the sparkly stuff is falling from the sky!

Anyway another one for the Christmas stash which I should really now get round to sorting out and writing!

I managed to take part in all but one of the challenges this year and have enjoyed the different themes, so thanks to the ladies over at CAS Christmas!

I'll be back in a few days with my mid month DT card for CAS Mix Up - but until then thanks for visiting and for any comments you leave. x

Shades of .......................... Blue!

Colours sometimes can change a stamp completely can't they?

I made a card using the same stamp (HERE) a little while ago using normal Summer/Autumn shades and decided to go for a complete change with this one!

My ink blended background was overstamped with a crackle stamp, some text and some grungy circles

I used a small dots stencil and a small dots stamp to finish the background off.

Stamped and triple heat embossed the flower (Crafty Individuals CI-560) in platinum, then watercoloured using Faded Jeans and Chipped Sapphire DI.

Really happy with the shine achieved by the triple embossing - here's a close up!

I have yet to decide on a sentiment - I thought perhaps I may use it for a winter card so have just popped it in my personal card box until I make my mind up!
Linking up at
A2S+M - Make your Mark
House that Stamps Built - Embossing
Sisterhood of Crafters - Flowers as Focus

We have a holiday weekend here - and the weather forecast looks good for a change - some time outside tending to my rain/wind battered plants is planned!
Have a great weekend wherever you are. x

Blissful

It's been a week where real life has simply got in the way and when I have had time to myself, I haven't done a lot!

I am in desperate need of sunshine after the weather recently (where is Spring? The end of May is not a time to have to put on your central heating!) and with once again grey skies and damp drizzle outside I decided to make my own.

Lemon brusho background - a nice sunshiney colour!

I used Squeezed Lemonade for the stencilling then did a bit of overstamping in black, Squeezed Lemonade and Fossilised Amber.

Orange brusho used to highlight the butterfly and the sentiment is from an old SU set.
Popped on a couple of lemon enamel dots.

Sharing over at
Cardz4Galz - Wings
TIOT - Feminine
Thanks for looking today - have a great weekend! x

Cas Mix Up May Mid Month reminder

 It's STENCIL month over at CAS Mix Up and mid way through our theme of 'Rainbow Ink Blending or Colours'.
Please remember this month is Stencil month so you have to use a stencil!
My launch card HERE had soft pastel shades - so went with really bold ones for this one!

My stencil is from Paperartsy.

This was a really quick make and I have done a couple the same design in different colours so if I need a card in a hurry I will have one.
Here's a pastel version on a square card.

Our guest designer Michele Ferguson (I Card Everyone) and the rest of the Design Team have some lovely examples over on the challenge blog and if you've not already joined us there's still time!

CAS Christmas April Challenge

It seems even weirder now to be making Christmas cards when we have blue skies and sunshine BUT - having ventured outside it is really cold so it feels more like Winter!
This month's challenge at CAS Christmas is RAINBOW
Here's my card which I am hoping is CAS enough 

I am still trying to keep using all the coloured cardstock that I have so black for this one which is normally used for layering!
For a long time I have tried to achieve a decent attempt at a night sky reminiscent of the Northern Lights.
(I have a burning ambition to actually see the lights for real and it is number 1 on my wish list.)

I used sooooo many inks for this sky but you know, I was really happy with it!

Flicked some white Posca pen across it to give a 'starry' effect.

I cut out two rows of trees, one in black and another in watercolour card.

I tried to watercolour the trees in the same colours as the sky immediately above them!
I offset the black trees behind to give a little 'shadow'.

The sentiment is one of my fave Christmas dies.

I am feeling very pleased  as it is now month 4 and I have kept my promise to take part in CAS Christmas every month!
(But I keep reminding myself it's only a quarter of the way through the year!!!)
Wishing you all a Happy Easter weekend. x

Sharing at
Jingle Belles - Dies

Dragonflies

(Picture heavy post!)
The Twofer challenge always makes me think and this month I had to think more than usual!

It's taken me a long time to  make a decision and to come up with something - which is madness when you consider the prompt was 'YOUR CHOICE'!

Eventually I came up with these -
I've had this Stampendous stamp for ever! Forget the last time I used it so made up for lost time and used it twice.

I stamped and clear embossed then added some Brushos. I am still not very good with Brushos and this panel was my third attempt.

A little grungy overstamping with a hexagon stamp and an arrow stamp. Liked the hexagon, didn't like the arrow so overstamped it with the 'Make Art' which fortunately for me looked OK!


My second card involved more embossing!

Gold embossed the dragonfly

then fussy cut, getting rid of the flourish and the vines. I painted the wings with several Mica Powders so they have a little shimmer.

The background is an old stencil from Imagination Crafts - I used Tea Dye for the Bullrush tops and Twisted Citron for the leaves.

I lightly inked some Speckled Egg DI for the sky and stamped the sentiment in the Tea Dye ink.

Am going to share the second card at
MTTC- Stencil It
Stamplorations Stencil Challenge - A/Goes

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for looking today and thank you for any comments you leave.

I really appreciate you taking the time. x

Flower

We have had very misty mornings the last couple of days but eventually late afternoon the sun has come through and cheered me up! It's still not very warm but everything look so much better under blue skies.

This was another 'Had To Have' stamp! Crafty Individuals CI-560 and is simply called 'Flower'.
I have made a couple of cards with it which no doubt will appear on the blog soon!
After stamping the flower, I started my background blending Picked Raspberry/Scattered Straw/Tea Dye.

A thin layer of texture paste through the 'Vintage Diamond' mini stencil and once dry blended a little Dried Marigold over it. I used Black Soot (very lightly) through the circle and line stencil and then just added a few odd grungy stamps randomly.

Stamped the flower head again and watercoloured, then fussy cut it before sticking it back on the base card.

The word 'flower' is a Visible Image stamp.

I didn't want a stark white card base so just used some inks and the stencils to give a better background to mount the finished panel on.

This card was 'Pick Of The Week' over at the Crafty Individuals Group Facebook page! Couldn't believe it and now I have the happy (but difficult) problem of choosing another stamp for my prize!

Sharing over at
TIOT- Use a Stencil or Two
A2S+M - Make your Mark
Daisy Chain - Flowers

Paint, Carpet and Ink

This week we have done a little bit of decorating in the room where we spend most of our time - the craft/music/online gaming room. (The latter 2 are not me by the way!)
I am a messy crafter. Over the years since we have been here I have dropped ink pads (always the pad side down) onto the carpet tiles, splattered odd bits of Brusho here and there, managed to get glue everywhere - you get the picture.
I am now sat in the freshly painted room with some nice new flooring and the comment 'Let's see how long it takes for you to make a mess'...... 😳😳
So not being apprehensive at all I got out the ink......................

A linen textured card base called for a linen textured panel. After inking, I took 2 stencils inking with 2 more different shades of green.
Stamped and clear embossed the leafy branch and watercoloured.
A few drops of white Nuvo  and a stamped sentiment.

The ink mustn't have been completely dry as the white Nuvo soaked it up so now the little drops are green but in real life it looks OK!

So today it looks like we are moving from Tier 3 into full lockdown next week. At least I have a freshly pained craft space to spend my time in!

Oh and I bought a rather large rug online which covers MOST of the area I work in.... bets on bouncing ink pads anyone?????