Mid way at Try It On Tuesday

Our 'WHAT A NIGHT' challenge is half way through at TRY IT ON TUESDAY.

Near the top of my wish list for several years has been wanting to see the spectacle of the Aurora Borealis.
We were planning a trip to colder and more Northerly climes for late 2025 in the hope that we may be lucky and then in 2024 she showed herself not just once but several times in England and I (along with many others) actually had their wish granted without having to travel anywhere!

First time I rushed outside at 1am watching these dancing green and pink columns above my head and then on two more occasions I saw the sight again that I never thought I would be fortunate enough to see.

The last sighting just before Christmas was the most spectacular - vivid pink columns before eventually the other coloured dancing lights appeared in the starry sky.

So I credit the Lady Aurora for inspiring me to make this card.

Of course it isn't as perfect as the real thing but it captures for me the first moments of the last appearance - and the sentiment is definitely true - I will definitely remember the moments I saw this natural phenomenon!
Tree stamps are from Inkylicious.

Thanks for looking and for any comments you leave - hope you are able to join our challenge too!
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Try It On Tuesday New Challenge

 We have a theme called 'WHAT A NIGHT' for our latest challenge at Try It on Tuesday.

I hope you can find time to pop over to the BLOG and see what the rest of the creative team members have come up with - and that you'll be inspired to join us.

This card was something of an experiment for me - I wanted to do a sky that was a dark and moody Northern Light type display (instead of the bright green and violets) and used black card stock as the base card instead of my usual white.
It gave a completely different effect but one that I am not too disappointed with!

I roughly and randomly brushed the top of the card with some white Brilliance ink and then used the same ink with the mountain stencil and built up the colour at the bottom.

The sky colours are Cracked Pistachio, Picked Raspberry and Blueprint Sketch.
The castle is from Lavinia and the pine trees are from Inkylicious.

I have had the sentiment for a long time and just white heat embossed to make it stand out before adding a few small ink spatters to make stars in the sky.

Overall I am not too displeased with the end result on the dark card background - but I think I wouldn't blend the colours over the last and largest mountain range if I did this again.
I wanted it to look like the sky was reflecting off the snowy slopes and I don't think I quite nailed it.
Thanks for looking and for any comments you leave - I really do appreciate it! x

Feeling Blue

It's half way through our 'FEELING BLUE' challenge at TRY IT ON TUESDAY so you've still time to join in.
Here's my half way make -

Not anything to do with feeling sad as you can see but it is most definitely blue!

Inks used -
Sky - Chipped Sapphire, Prize Ribbon.
Water - Uncharted Mariner, Blueprint Sketch.
Faded both top and bottom out towards the middle so that the moon gives off light.

The image is of course from Stampin Up's Beautiful You set, which I coloured with a black Posca pen then added some white highlights.

Used a white posca pen for the 'ripples' and although it doesn't show up very well in the photo a white gel pen to make some lighter ripples across the entire bottom.

A few ink spatters across the sky to mimic stars and she really is 'Dancing In the Moonlight'!

Thanks for looking and have a great day whatever you're doing. x

1st Challenge of 2025 at Try It On Tuesday

By now all the decorations will be stored away and doesn't your home look bare?!

I actually like it when all the Christmas clutter has gone and my house is 'back to normal'!

Our first challenge of the year at Try It On Tuesday is called 'Feeling Blue' (which I hope you're not).

I used one single ink pad for this make - Salty Ocean oxide - and it took no time at all to do.
Ink blending liberally splashed with water first.

Stamped the images from a really old Art Journey set using the Oxide and then hunted for a sentiment.
I didn't want a specific greeting as I have no idea what I will use this card for and wanted something generic.

I quite like this one, have had it for ever- no idea who's it is but it's mounted on red rubber and was bought well before clear stamps were a 'thing'!

Hope you can find time to join us this time - please visit the BLOG and see some of the lovely makes from the rest of the creative team.

Have a lovely day whatever you're doing. x

Last of 2024 at Try It On Tuesday!

 Welcome to the last challenge of the year at Try It On Tuesday!
Another year almost gone and Christmas is just around the corner so our challenge this time is called
'SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN'

I once again got out my little lonely boy stamp! I make no apologies for loving this Andy Skinner stamp so much - it has been well used and has been well loved since I got it!

The little man so far has been flying his balloon at the seaside, standing by himself in a country landscape and just simply stamped in lots of other plain backgrounds so it was only fitting that this time he would be standing on an icy pathway looking over the tops of the houses in the street and seeing a very special sight.

The skyline and the Santa sleigh stamp are from Inkylicious.

I used Chipped Sapphire, Seedless Preserve and Fossilized Amber for the sky.

Highlighted with dabs of Stickles here and there and coloured the little man with Aquarelle pencils. As ever the glittery bits don't show up too good!

Please go visit the rest of the creative team at the blog and I hope that you join us for this challenge!
We'll be back with a new challenge on 7th January.
Happy Christmas! x

Linking up at
Pearly Sparkles - Christmas
Merry Little Christmas- A/Thing Christmas
IYGACAC - (Inspired by the Santa cookie!) - Don't stop Believin'
Peace on Earth - A/thing Christmas
Sweet Stampin' - Christmas Creations
Holly and Ivy - A/thing Christmas
Cardz4Guyz - Christmas card

How about a bit of Sparkle?!

 The new challenge at TRY IT ON TUESDAY is called 'SPARKLE ALL THE WAY', so we want to see lots of blingy creations this time round!

I had a bit of fun with some sequins.... especially when I knocked the tub onto the floor 🙈😀

I'm conscious that Christmas now is not too far away so I have been busy with cards and other things.

I used a Penny Black stamp for this card which I have had for several years and every Christmas it gets an airing in one form or another!

This time I gold embossed it and then blended Picked Raspberry over it.
Nuvo Gold and Diamond sequins randomly placed, a gold stamped sentiment (also Penny Black) and finished.

I made a couple of these as it was really quick to do (apart from the half hour collecting the sequins from off the floor....) and the 3 hours that I spent trying to get a decent pic! (Well not 3 hours but a long time anyway!)
Trying to photo sparkles is not a job I would want full time!

Hope you will pop over to the blog and see the rest of the DT's creations and that you'll join us for this challenge - after all what is life without bling?! 💎 x

Just playing

 I treated myself at the last Lavinia release. Although I am not a Halloween person I fell in love with the lovely pretty witches so they got on their brooms🧹 and flew here bringing a couple more things from the release with them. I am very controlled when it comes to buying Stamp Collections - I sift through and only get what I know I will use - (👼polishes halo!) as it is too easy just to click on 'buy all'!

Since buying I've had very little time to try them out nor have I had any ideas so it was simply a matter of finding a simple design and having a go.

Ink blended, stamped, highlighted with sparkly Posca pens and a white Signo pen.

Don't forget there is still time to enter our Halloween challenge at Try It On Tuesday!

Ages since I linked up at other challenge blogs too so am popping over to
Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge
The Crafting Challenge - Halloween
Make My Monday - Spooky/Halloween
Daisy Chain - Halloween

Have a great day whatever you're doing! x

New Challenge at Try It On Tuesday

Having not had a proper holiday since pre-Covid and as this year was our 25th wedding anniversary we sat down and talked about what we wanted to do. Other half wanted a lazy beach holiday and I wanted the trip of a lifetime!
If we have learnt anything in the last 25 years or so it is how to compromise - so a beach holiday was duly booked for this year and my dream trip booked for next!
It was a lovely relaxing break and the weather was fantastic. I have lounged about, been waited on hand and foot by the amazing staff at the Asimina Suites and was sorry to come home.
So I apologise for not visiting you all the last 3 weeks but now I have sorted out the washing and ironing I will rectify that and come and see you!

It's not surprising given the date that our challenge at Try It On Tuesday for the next 2 weeks is called 'Halloween'!

I don't actually 'do' Halloween but I have made a card which is (loosely) Halloween related!

I started by stamping the smallest pumpkin from Lavinia and masked it before stamping 'Pumpkin Lodge'. 

This was also masked before I stamped the Fairy Crook.

The 'evil' pumpkin was then stamped to hang from it (I actually think it's quite cute with it's smiley face and not at all scary!)

This was one of the few times I did the stamping before the ink blending. I left the masks in place and used Spectrum Noir Midnight, D.Ox Chipped Sapphire, Villainous Potion, Mowed Lawn and Peeled Paint.

Did a bit of shading, highlighting and colouring with Aquarelle Pencils, glittery Poscas and a white Posca pen.
The two dangly spiders are from Card-io.

Hope you can join our challenge this time round and please do stop by the BLOG and see what the rest of the DT have done!

Thanks for stopping by. x

Try it On Tuesday - new challenge

Our new challenge at TRY IT ON TUESDAY is 'BLACK, WHITE AND ONE OTHER COLOUR'.
This is one of my fave colour combos - there's so much scope as there's so many different colours which are striking with black and white.

After using Lime Green with black and white recently I opted this time to go for Red.
This piece is now framed and hung on my back sitting room wall.

I started by masking off a circle and used a piece of card for a straight line to make the horizon. The Red sun was ink blended with a combo of  Fired Brick and Festive Berries Oxides - it really is a fiery red!

I lightly blended the remains of the colour on the brush below the sun, just dragging it in a 'V' shape in an attempt to imitate a reflection.

I used Black Soot Oxide for the rest of the blending taking care not to overload the brush and always blending onto scrap paper before blending onto the main piece and then only used gentle pressure as I didn't want it black.

The stamps are from Card-io and the white 'cherry blossom' and highlights were achieved with a white acrylic pen.

Thanks for looking - hope to see you linked up in the challenge blog! x

Colourful at Try It On Tuesday

We have 'MAKE IT COLOURFUL' as our new challenge at TRY IT ON TUESDAY.
I did a bit of ink blending for this challenge.

Colours used were Abandoned Coral, Fossilized Amber and Blueprint Sketch.

I remembered a brighly coloured tag I'd seen some time ago which used the dandelions as the centrepiece and as I hadn't used them for a while got them out!

I used the Coral over the blue to make the landscape at the bottom - it's actually taken on a bit of a violet hue in the pic but it is definitely blue in real life!

The stamp at the top is from Inkylicious and the other 2 are Lavinia.

I spattered the dandies with a white Posca pen and added a few black dots.

The clouds across the sun are not quite as good as I hoped - more practice needed - but overall was happy with the way this tuned out.

Hope you will visit the blog and the rest of the DT and look forward to seeing your creations!

Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

In the Garden at Try It On Tuesday

Time for another challenge!
This time Try It on Tuesday want to see your creations with the theme of  'In The Garden'.

Ink blending and Lavinia stamps for me this time.
Only used 2 colours for the blending  - Lilac and Green.

All the stamping was done with Versafine Clair inks (Nocturne, Verdant, and Shady Lane) and I did a little highlighting with a white gel pen and a pink glitter pen.

I love the idea that somewhere in all the flowers in the garden there's a little fairy balanced on a dandelion!

Hope you will pop over and see what the rest of the DT have done - and of course, I hope you will join us this fortnight!

Thanks for looking and any comment you leave - I really appreciate them all. x

Obsessed!

 It is official - I am completely obsessed with these new stamps designed by Andy Skinner.

Not one normally for waxing lyrical about stamps but I simply adore this set - so much so that I have made that many cards I don't know what to do with them!

It's hard to have a favourite but this little boy makes me feel sad and happy in equal measure - one minute I think he looks happy 😄 with his balloon, the next I think he's sad because he is by himself with just his balloon for company😢.

I know there are many who like me couldn't resist these stamps. They are nostalgic and I think a reminder of a simpler and less stressful way of life where as kids we were happy with a balloon and a day at the Beach instead of wanting expensive fancy phones or computer games!
 
So here he is having a 'wishing day'... wishing he and his balloon could float across the sea to the fair on the Pier!

My background was ink blended, the other stamps are from Card-io.

I coloured Balloon Boy and added highlights with my watercolour pencils.
Don't you just want to cuddle him and take him to the Fair?

Am linking up at
Alphabet Challenge - H is for (Summer) Holidays
Sparkles Monthly - 1 for the Boys
Crafters Cafe - A/Goes + add balloons
I Spy - Summertime Vibes

Thanks for looking today. x

Things with Wings at Try It On Tuesday

 Our challenge at Try It On Tuesday for the next two weeks is called 'THINGS WITH WINGS' and we're looking forward to seeing your interpretation of our theme.

I did an ink blended background after masking off the moon using green and purple shades with a teeny splash of yellow.

I did lightly go over the moon when the background was done as it looked very stark white and I wanted something less 'in your face'!

The script stamp is an old red rubber one - that old I have no idea which make it is.

The Bamboo are a mix from SU and Altenew.

I coloured the dragonfly with Aquarelle pencils and added a liberal helping of glossy accents onto the wings.

Hope you can join us - and do please visit my friends on the DT who have lots of lovely makes and are happy when you pop in!

Thanks for looking today and any comments you leave - I appreciate it. Have a lovely day whatever you're doing. x

Card Chain Challenge June Reveal

 My card for June in the Card Chain Challenge went to Gail in Norway and I received a really pretty make from Patricia in Texas!

Once again the colour option from the vast list of things to choose from appealed to me and I also used the Summertime theme.

I used a Memento ink pad called Sahara Sand for the sandy beach, then blended another Memento colour called Turquoise Gem. The Navy blue colour element was a mix of Salty Ocean and Chipped Sapphire Distress Oxide.

I stamped a few starfish randomly along the sandy beach and once the background was dry, I got out these brilliant Ocean stamps from Inkylicious.
I've used these stamps quite a lot recently - they are absolutely perfect for adding embossed waves and foam to beachy scenes.

Although it's hard to see in the photo the starfish and the sand do have a teeny bit of sparkle - achieved by random dotting of Wink of Stella Pens in brown and gold.

Finished with a stacked die cut. (I always think there's something very dreamy about listening to a tide lapping on a sandy shore so the die seemed a good fit!)

There's still a few days left to sign up for the next Chain if you fancy having a go! x

Card Chain Challenge April Reveal

 I was next in the link to my good blogging friend Hilary for the April Card Chain so my make went to her this time.
I received a lovely card from Gail in Canada who was the link below me - so thank you again Gail!
After being inspired by another of my blogging friends, here's my card for Hilary -

I did my usual and selected the Colour option from the long list of things to choose from.

Started by inking the background in Shaded Lilac Oxide.
Once dry I gave it a bit of a Bokeh effect with a home made circle stencil and Brilliance Moonlight White ink.

The foliage (which could be Queen Anne's Lace or maybe not!) from Rare Earth was second generation stamped with Versafine Shady Lane ink. It has actually shown up as a little on the grey side in the pic but it is green - honest!

Once everything was dry I had a bit of fun (???😲) with some silver gilding flakes! It was only when I opened the jar lid I remembered why I use them rarely....

Dabbed on some tiny dots of Cosmic Shimmer glue to the heads and added the flakes - (being careful not to breathe/cough/open any windows whilst the jar was open!) 

I was actually quite pleased with the end result and think the pic really doesn't do it justice -  although I couldn't admire it for long as it took me a while to tidy up tiny pieces of silver flakes!

Happy Crafting! x

Try It On Tuesday Inspired by a Song

Our challenge for the next two weeks at Try It On Tuesday is 'Inspired by a Song.'
I am a massive music fan - since I was a child I have loved music - most music genres too so it was always going to be a difficult choice as to which song I used for this challenge and I started to seriously think ...... Then I stopped thinking and made a decision!

I chose 'Fields of Barley' and although written by Sting, I much prefer the Eva Cassidy version. She has such a beautiful voice and interprets the lyrics so well. 

You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley.
You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we walk in fields of gold.

It's a love song, full of poignancy and is deeply evocative as it maps out love from beginning to the final parting.
It makes me cry and smile at the same time!

So - my background is ink blended and my barley field is a stamp from Inkylicious stamped and gold heat embossed.

The sentiment is from Altenew Moments in Time set and it seemed perfect- stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia.

I mounted onto some gold mirri card before sticking onto the card base.

Hope you will share your favourite song with us this challenge! x

 

March Card Chain Challenge Reveal

2 posts from me today - my DT card for Try It on Tuesday's new challenge is HERE.

It's Card Chain Challenge Reveal Day and my March make headed over to Ella in Germany and Joanne in UK sent me mine - and it's gorgeous, so thank you Jo!

The colour option was perfect for me this time - time has been very limited and when I have had time Mr Mojo has disappeared.

A simple stamped and ink blended make which I hope Ella liked.

Using a white background, black matting, black stamping and my 'one other colour' was Fossilized Amber which I used on the sun and lightly blended around the edges.

There's still time to sign up for this month if you fancy having a go - just pop over to THIS post and link up!

Hope you are all well in your corner of blogland and thanks for looking today! x

Card Chain Challenge December reveal

 For the final chain of 2023 I sent my card to Ellie in Illinois and received a lovely card from Imke in Germany.
This challenge was another mega head scratcher as the Tic Tac Board had the annual 25 squares!
This time my five squares were chosen from the diagonal from bottom left to top right.

I confess to a little creative licence with regards to the card I made!

Blue - an ink blended Chipped Sapphire D.I

Bauble -  the ones on the tree - all highlighted with Nuvo drops so they really do shine

Buddy - Rory and Darcy are definitely good buddies! Exploring everything together - and poking at Christmas tree baubles!

Bling - why is sparkle so hard to photograph???
I added lots of Diamond Stickles to Rory and Darcy's wings and a liberal helping along the ground.
I also used a gold glitter Posca pen  and added lots of dots with it on the tree so it does have a shimmer in real life.

Burgundy - well I am hoping that the ink blended Seedless Preserve D.I used for the ground will pass!

It's been a lovely year receiving cards from all over the world.
A huge thank you to those who administer the Challenge too.

It's such a lot of hard work and when you think we've exchanged over 4,000 card in 33 countries it's mind boggling!

Still time to sign up for the first challenge of 2024 too!

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

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