Traditional Christmas at Try It On Tuesday

 Christmas is looming and our challenge for the next 2 weeks at Try it On Tuesday is called 'TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS'
There is nothing more traditional than a Christmas Tree is there?
So here's my take on the theme -

I am not very good at sewing but I confess to having such fun making these - so much so I ended up making a whole forest in different sizes! (Well quite a few anyway!)

I have long been promising to get round to using up scraps of material and lace which have lain in a box for years.
I also have a massive amount of stash (like everybody else) which I hoard because in 48 years time I might need it for something...........

I made a little dent in the pile and enjoyed myself!
I hand stitched most of the decoration on the triangle trees which were sewed on the machine and were cut from the remains of a fat quarter.

The 'trunk' is a pencil wrapped in twine
I used some stuffing from an old cushion to fill the trees, then glued a little bit of stuffing to the pencil before glueing again and pushing into the tree top.

I was a bit bothered as I wasn't sure if this would work but happy to say it dried well inside and the glue didn't seep through to the material.

The pencil trunk was glued into oasis which had been glued into the little buckets. Again I wasn't sure how good this would turn out but it's dried solid and the trees are quite stable, the biggest one measures about 12 inches tall.

Added some snowy stuff, some glittery bits of a scrap of yarn and wooden shapes (which I have had FOREVER)
Hope you will join us for this challenge!
Will share some of the others in another post. Thanks for looking. x
Linking up at
Pixies Playground with all of my lace and odd leftovers!
Crafty Catz - A/Goes
Simon says Stamp - Trees
Double Trouble Thing 1 - Stitch it Up

Spring at Try It On Tuesday

Our new challenge for the next two weeks at Try It On Tuesday is entitled 'Spring'
Remember you can make whatever you want as long as it follows the challenge theme!
Be lovely if you could join us this time and please have a look at the makes from the rest of the DT over on the blog as we love visitors!

I've had a little of a change and made something a bit different for me this time.

My neighbour shares my love of gardening and we often swap cuttings. She has had a bit of a tough and worrying time just recently as her other half has not been very well so I wanted something to give her other than the bottle of wine/box of choccies/bunch of flowers!

At the end of last Summer I collected some Sweet Pea seeds - as always there are far too many for me so I made this watering can from a template downloaded from the internet as it seemed just right for what I wanted.

Used Core-dinations cardstock (found in a cupboard completely forgotten about) and after cutting out the shape I ran through a roses embossing folder and lightly sanded.

I cut the handles and spout from the leftover bits and with the tiniest pieces left managed to punch out the 2 butterflies and still have a bit left for the sentiment! So instead of hiding/throwing away the leftovers I used them all up one one thing!

When it was all stuck together I secured the handles with tiny flower shaped brads.

My seeds were put into a tiny brown envelope and wrapped in tissue paper then popped into the body of the can.
With Spring almost upon us here it won't be long before the seeds are planted!
Sharing my watering can over at
Four Seasons - Spring
Beautiful Blossoms - A/Floral
Pixies Snippets Playground

Try It On Tuesday Mid Way Reminder

Our Hearts and/or Flowers theme at Try it On Tuesday has reached it's half way point. Some great creations added to our blog this time and there's still another week to go if you haven't had a go or even if you want to do another!

Just before Christmas my friend got married and this was the card I made for them.
The majority of the card was done using Centura Pearl and I used up a few oddly shaped bits of card which were in the folder with the full sheets to make the corner flourishes.

I opted to emboss the background to give it a bit more interest.

The 2 smaller flowers were made from some oddments of card too using a Spellbinders die - there wasn't enough to make the big one!
I forget how many rounds I cut but I wanted them to be full!

They are a bit of a faff to glue all together but I think worth it in the end.

Layered onto silver matt card and used a little bit of leftover to die cut the silver leaves and used the smallest pieces to pop behind the tiny heart shapes in the corner flourishes.

It's been a while since I managed to skip across to the Playground but am sticking my head through the railings this week!
Also sharing at
CYHTP - A/Goes
Alphabet Challenge - W for Weddings
Cut It Up - Have a Heart
MMM - Love

Thanks for looking - have a great day whatever you're doing! x

Little bits!

Made this from tiny bits of watercolour card that I had left over from a bigger project (which I can't share at the mo!)
I was about to sweep them all into the bin as they were really small scraps but remembered these dies which are quite small.

I masked off my white base card and lightly sponged on some distress ink
Die cut as many bits as I could starting with the vases as obviously they were the biggest and just coloured them all in pastel shades.
It was a bit fiddly assembling the flowers/leaves into the vases cos they were so tiny!

It's been a little while since I have been in the Playground and I feel rather naughty as one of my makes was chosen as a Top Pick a couple of weeks ago - I just don't seem to have found any time recently to simply sit down and have a play for myself.
So am taking my vases into the Playground today for Miss Di and Sarnie to show that I am sorry for being such a bad snippeter!

We are busy doing some prep work in the garden when the weather is dry - we have a major drainage problem as all the water from the driveway and small road at the back simply runs into the garden - coupled with some ridiculously heavy clay soil it really has been like a river running into a lake this winter - so work is starting middle of next month and we're in the process of trying to rescue as many of the plants I put in last summer, transferring them into pots before the driveway and the garden is dug up by the landscaper to install some proper drainage.
Am also sharing my make over at
Krafty Chicks - CAS
Paper Players - CAS/Spring
613 Avenue Create- CAS
Tic/Tac/Toe - I chose the middle row down - Pastel Colors, Flowers, Spring Theme

Thanks for finding the time to stop by. I hope all is well in your part of blogland. x

Love-in month!

I don't do Valentines Day. Have never done Valentine's Day.
Well maybe I did - when I was a love sick teenager but it was that long ago I've forgotten!😳
I cannot for the life of me understand why we have to have a specific day to show/tell someone that we care about them? And I am currently sat down taking deep breaths having just seen on FB the price from a florist for 12 red roses 😱..................  

Anyway - February 14th is also the other half's birthday so we celebrate that instead! Not that we do much on the day itself - mainly because restaurants are full of the love sick teenagers as mentioned above or with people who feel that they absolutely have to show their love 💋💝for someone on ONE day a year!
Helloooooo there are 364 other days.......

I have though made a CAS card... I had a lot of odd bits lying on the desk and used them up instead of chucking them in the bin.
You'll have to forgive the terrible pic - we have the most glorious day here and I still cannot find anywhere to take a good photo!

Some left over hammered cardstock bits used for the circle, square frame, the twiggy bit and the word.
I triple layered the word.

The heart is another odd leftover bit - it's a not too shiny rose gold snippet which I found under the craft mat!.
Finished the twig by using some pale pink Liquid Pearls which when dried isn't too bad a match for my teeny heart.

It's been a long long time since I have linked up at the Playground as I have simply got into the habit of not keeping bits cos I was in danger of being buried under a paper mountain - but am paying a visit this week!

Unsurprisingly there are several love themed challenges around so I am sharing over at
MMM - Love is in the Air
TIOT - All you need is love (and a big bank balance if you're buying flowers)
SOS - Love is in the Air

Thanks for taking the time to look today - we have had some glorious spring like days this week - lifts your spirits to see blue skies - even if it is still cold!

Is Spring here?

It has taken me a long time to shake off the virus despite having all my jabs - I know for many symptoms are mild but there are others like me who have been really poorly.
I have tested negative for the last 5 days but still have a cough which I am told may be with me for several weeks yet 😖. At least I am feeling a little more human!

Despite having this beautiful new craft room am finding it quite difficult to get back into creating - there are so many other things I want to be doing, not least my garden!

We had a couple of days of lovely weather and I thought Spring had arrived - then we suddenly had overnight frosts, very strong winds, rain and plummeting daytime temperatures.
It's really cold here at the mo and those few spring flowers which are out are probably regretting showing their faces.

This spring offering was simply made from left over bits of cardstock, using this lovely Alexander Renke Crocus die which has become one of my all time faves.

A quick and simple card that didn't tax me too much!

I have been AWOL from the Playground - keeping my germs to myself - but I am poking my nose through the gates with this make!
Thanks for stopping by - I hope all is well with you in your part of blogland. x

Watercolour and twigs and Thank You!

 

A quick and simple card - so quick and simple I made a batch of them!
Watercoloured using Distress Oxides, then when dry stamped the twigs.

I resisted the temptation to put berries on them using Nuvo drops as I quite liked them stark and bare. The stamp is by Inkylicious called unsurprisingly 'Willow Twigs'!

One of the things you realise when you're in a confined space is that it really isn't a good idea to spatter your Posca Pen without covering up anything close by - I am currently typing this onto a snowstorm covered keyboard and viewing it through a snowy screen!

I had several small scraps of white card lying about so simply tore them all up and laid over the bottom of the watercolours, then stamped the sentiment (Stampin Up). Altogether I made 8 cards!

As each card only has one tiny snippet I am not sure if Miss Di will allow me to visit the Playground but am linking up and if not she can send me to the naughty step and give me detention!!

Am sure everyone's as fed up as me over my house move saga, so will only say we've not had much movement apart from a suggested date but nothing definite -and it ain't for a few weeks yet cos apparently solicitors (unlike the rest of us mere mortals) have to have extended Christmas holidays... enough said.

I will try and visit everyone in blogland before Christmas Day, but if I don't manage it, I want to wish you all a peaceful, happy Christmas surrounded by everything that is special to you.

Thank you all for sticking with me, particularly the last 6 months which have at times been a hard slog for me, I REALLY appreciate you all, your comments have kept me going.

Christmas wishes everyone and stay safe. xx

Pretty

Today's share uses one of my all time fave dies which I bought a long time ago!
It's not cutting as good as it used to - probably worn out.... 😧

My base card this time is an ivory shade of linen textured card - I have lots and don't use it enough- it's a subtle shade and makes a change from stark white I think.

Simple card to do and I like how it turned out.

Stitched die cut square from an odd leftover, lightly dusted with green and pink ink.

I watercoloured the poppy cut from another odd bit and used some foam pads to pop it up off the front.

The card sent to a close friend who had a birthday shortly after a devastating bereavement - after so much sadness wishing her a 'Happy' Birthday didn't seem right.   

Weather has turned cloudier and cooler here and we even had rain yesterday -it's not often we go a while without rain so it was a bit of a novelty - anyway it did the plants good and Himself was pleased as he had put some weedkiller on the lawn and he didn't have to water it in!

Sharing my little make over at -
Pixies Playground #401
Cardz4Galz - Special Lady
Double Trouble #82 - Flowers

CAS Mix Up - mid month reminder

 Halfway through our Stencil Heat Embossing challenge at CAS Mix Up set by Nancy.
There's some great entries so far and there's still time to join in - the challenge runs until 24th of the month.

I used an old stencil which I think was called 'Animal Print' but have really no idea who's make it is.

I white embossed the animal print onto a left over piece of black card by using an Embossing Dabber then applying the powder.

Cut it into a square panel and matted it onto a square of white card.
A simply heat embossed gold and black sentiment onto another small piece of white card.

The animal 'parade' at the bottom is a Sheena Douglas stamp, inked in white and clear embossed.

This technique of embossing through stencils is one that I have enjoyed doing and will do some more I think.

Some lovely examples done again by our talented Design Team and I hope you can pop your make into our gallery!
 

Am also going over to the Snippets Playground where there is a special challenge (#396)  going on this fortnight!
Thanks for looking today and fingers crossed that all is well with you in your part of blogland. x

An Old Favourite

 Have been doing a variety of things the last few days ranging from struggling with a piece of vellum (😒) to making my fingers multi coloured with ink to shifting a ton of gravel (honestly) up several steps onto our garden!
So it was nice to be able to spend a couple of hours yesterday having a FaceTime chat with some crafting friends followed by a bit of CAS cardmaking!

I have had this die for such a long time. It's been used on Wedding cards, Birthday cards, Sympathy cards - but this is the first time I have used it on a Christmas card!

The snow dry embossed background piece was left over from something else and I used a wavy die to tidy up the ragged edge and gold embossed. In fact the whole card was made from leftover bits!

A mix of Festive Berries and Candied Apple inks for the larger flowers, and some gold metallic ink on the smaller pieces. Finished it off with some red Nuvo pearls for berries.
A couple of circles die cut and liberally spattered with the red ink and a gold heat embossed sentiment.

Didn't take too long to do!

This month over at the Flower Challenge they are celebrating their 4th Birthday and the theme is Circles.  I am also hopping across to Pixies Snippets Playground to see what's been going on.
We are on the highest lockdown restrictions again so likely there'll be more cards getting made as I try to find something to occupy myself now that the pots and containers don't need as much tending to. 

Take care wherever you are in blogland. x

Happy Hug

Earlier this week I was suffering just a tiny bit, feeling quite .... 'restless' (only word I can think of to describe it).  Even though restrictions have eased a bit here we are still preferring to be careful and not go anywhere unnecessarily - but yesterday we had a 15 minute drive to a local garden centre which cheered me up no end. The car was a little full on the way back!
So my plans for today were after our walk,to plant up the lovely things from yesterday - the forecast said a light breeze and sunny spells until Sunday - perfect for me - light breeze??? LIGHT BREEZE??? 

We got up this morning and 3 of my new plant stash were blown over and rolling about on the patio. The wind has been ridiculous all day - and tomorrow is going to be the same -  I am not happy!!!!
Simply impossible to do anything outside - apart from to secure all the plants together - so to those of you who commented on the post with the pics of where I live (here) - yes it is a lovely place - until the winds arrive!

So off to the craft space and whilst listening to the howling outside made this from a piece of left over smooshed background.

The sentiment shape was not intentional! I stamped onto a piece in between where I had cut out the flowers to see if I liked the text size next to the delicate dies intending if I thought it was OK to stamp onto a bigger left over piece and diecut.
But I liked the shape so just snipped it off and used it!

Sharing at
Krafty Chicks - CAS
Unicorn - Use Dies
CAS on Friday - Use a Die
Pixies Snippets Playground - #378

Dirty Leftovers Part 1!

Following on from my last post this is the 2nd card made with my finished 'Dirty Pour'. I've  a smallish square bit left which will be subject to a third and final post in due course!! But I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who visited and left me so many wonderful amazing comments - I was happy with my card but even happier that you all took the time to visit!

I have no idea why this frame looks like it isn't square! Cos it is...........................

Anyway -the background of the frame was the leftover piece from the embossed background on the first card.

I stamped a few grassy bits in Smokey Grey ink, then added a couple of pale pink flowerheads and a couple of small dots.

The flower is a die I have had for a while and never used and happily two small pieces cut off from the heart fitted so I was able to paper piece.
I haven't added a sentiment yet as can't make my mind up!

The same with the middle of the frame that I now have left over and have to decide what to do with it! Such decisions!!

Linking up to
CAS Mix Up - Acrylic Paint (Stamping/Die Cutting/Paper Piecing)

Flower Challenge - Anything Goes
Pixies Playground - # 373

Thanks for looking today. x

Fun with Foil!

I have enjoyed playing about with Foils recently and there is still a few days left in our current challenge at CAS Stencil so have made another card!

It is a bit of a change for me to use a coloured card base and I have been disappointed with some coloured card that I have bought recently as it had a rough feel to it like it was unfinished! I am now on a mission to find somewhere here in the UK that sells smooth high quality coloured card in small packs (- I don't want to be buying 100 sheets - ) and doesn't need me to take out a second mortgage to buy it.

This grey card pack of 10 sheets was in a recent sale and was happy that it has a lovely smooth finish to it when it arrived.

The silver mirri card was a left over bit and fitted the length of the card so cut it out with wavy dies. The white was also a left over piece.
I heat embossed the sentiment (not very well looking at it!!!) in silver to keep the grey and white colour combo throughout.

I'm popping into the Playground this week with my make too.
Thanks for looking - would love to see your foiled stencil creations in the gallery if you have time to spare over the next few days! x

Man Stash

As ever I have very few 'man' cards in the box.  Some time back I made a card using Alco Inks and a piece of metal - it turned out a rather dramatic peice -   (you can see it HERE if you want!)
At the time I thought to try the same theme but with a different technique for the background - here it is

I inked up the embossing folder with a couple of Distress Inks and used a scrap of leftover card.

Whilst it doesn't have the same impact as the Alco Inked card, the impression it left was really nice  a(well I think so anyway!).

Out with the Hot Glue Gun! A few dabs here and there and didn't bother too much about stringy bits as I moved the gun around and blobbed!!

Silver embossing powder over the top and heated again.

Matted it onto a leftover piece of silver card before putting it onto the base card.
I tried it onto a piece of dark blue base card too and it looked not bad at all as well - so another option!

At least I have made another 'man' card.
I am intending to sort through the folders and see what other abstract type designs might be able to get the Hot Glue and embossing powder treatment!

Sharing over at -
Inkspirational - Glitz a Strip or small area
Pixies Playground - Snippets
613 Avenue Create - A/Goes, option Shiny
Cardz4Guyz- CAS
Watercooler Wednesday - Male

Thanks for looking - and would love to know what you think - if you've looked at the other card too tell me your favourite?
We are off on another indoor bowling break with our friends this week - don't know why we call it a 'bowling' break as we normally eat too much/drink too much/laugh lots and the bowling is something we do inbetween!! x

New

A 'New Home' card!

Made using my fave textured linen card. Some soft blending of Tumbled Glass DI for the sky and a little Squeezed Lemonade at the bottom.

The border stamp was inked using markers and spritzed with water - I tried it on a piece of scrap paper to see what it looked like first- decided it looked OK so lightly spritzed again and stamped direct onto the card.

I have had this Bird/House/Ivy die for a long time - I think it may be a Marianne die (as it's blue) but can't be sure. They were the perfect size for some small odd bits of card!
(I  am sat at the Playground gates waiting for them to open - Miss Di has been having a bit of a rest!) 
Coloured the ivy with Distress Inks and popped it up with foam pads, foam pads also used for the little bird house and birdie sat onto the branch.

A relatively CAS card I think and added bonus it was a quick make!

We have some friends coming later for an overnight stay - it's a long while since the stars have aligned for us all to be free at the same time so am looking forward to a good catch up and a curry at a nearby restaurant!
Hope all is well in your part of blogland and thanks for stopping by. x
Sharing over at -
Craft Rocket - Something New
Fab 'n Funky - No designer paper
Paper Shelter - New Beginnings
CRAFT- A/Goes

Christmas Peace

Having arrived back from our break I thought it was about time that I actually made an effort and have the house look a little festive! So yesterday was spent with the tree, the decorations and the making of a table centre. On my feet all day and although the other half did most of the up and down 2 flights of stairs, I did a fair bit too so last night was too tired to do anything except try and ease my aching back with a bath and bed!
We've done the Christmas Eve/Christmas Day/Boxing Day shop today -  I have no idea how many some people are feeding when you look at overflowing shopping trollies!
My share is inspired by Pinterest - and I used a few snippets for this so am popping over to see Miss Di at the Playground.

I scraped some texture paste through a stencil and then brushed over some Antique Linen DI. Using  linen textured card also means I had some texture already to the base.
The die was obtained by a friend for me from the USA. I simply love this PB die and it has been used quite a bit on cards this year. It just shouts Christmas to me!
I used a scrap of watercolour card and started to paint it, adding some shimmer powder as I went along. It really made a difference to the flat base colour. The darker sections were left without the powder as I wanted the centre part to draw the eye.
Nuvo Gold applied to the centre, the berries and a little bit on the fronds.
A die cut sentiment from another bit of scrap and finished card!

Sharing over at
Allsorts - A/Goes
PBSC - A/Goes (Sparkle and Shine)
MTTC - Christmas Flowers
AYLI - Fave die
Inkspirational - No Stamping
The Flower Challenge - Use a Die

I want to say thank you for following me, for visiting me and for leaving me comments this year. I appreciate your support more than I can tell you!
If this is to be your last visit before Christmas, I wish you all a peaceful, happy Christmas surrounded with love (and of course crafty stuff!!) xxx

Technique

I have been trying out some techniques - some have been successful, some not!
This was one that isn't perfect but am not too disappointed.
I tried this technique last year and thought I should try it again. I forgot though the one thing I learnt last time - DON'T PRESS TOO HARD WHEN SWIPING THE INK PAD'!!!

I think practice may make perfect on this 'Black Ice' technique and no doubt I will try it again on another scrap of mirri card.

This is not a big card - it only measures 4" square. The mirri card was just an odd piece, as was the black linen textured card, both left over from something and put onto a white card blank. (Playground for me then!)

The tree stamps are Inikadinkadoo and the stag is Inkylicious.
I watched this video from the Serene Stamper - and looking at her finished cards compared to mine - more practice required!!

Thanks for looking  - we woke up to the first frost this morning and as usual after a frosty start we now have clear blue skies and sunshine! Have a great day whatever you're doing! x
Sharing over at -
MIUBC #30 - A/Goes with Open Technique
Just Add Ink #430 - Add a Technique
Double D - Silhouettes
Dragonfly Dreams - Use Black

CAS Watercolour

I had several tiny pieces of smooshed card mounting up - they were about to see the inside of the waste bin as really they were too small to be of any real use and I am trying to continue in my  quest to keep the desk tidy 😇😇- but then I remembered I had a small butterfly punch that might fit some of the odd pieces.
 So that was the basis for this card!

The die cut squares were also left over from other things so I am feeling rather pleased with myself that I managed to make this from scraps!

The smaller die cut was already smooshed with Stormy Sky DI and I just added a few spatters in Picked Raspberry.

The chrysalis on the branch is a very old (and small!) clear stamp and I coloured with my watercolour pens and added a teeny bit of sparkle. .

The sentiment is from SU's Butterfly Basics.
I painted the bodies of the tiny butterflies then just layered it all up.

CAS Watercolour's August challenge is Colourful Butterflies.

It's also been a little while since I have managed to go to The Playground, so am sharing my make over there too.

And at TIOT the challenge is - In My Garden there is....... ! 

We have had such a wet few days - sunshine one minute then heavy rain the next. Not what we want during August which is supposed to be our summer!
Thanks for taking the time to look today, wherever you are I hope your weather is better than mine! x

Mop Up Your Mess!

I have been saving the paper towels I use for mopping up my mess for a little while (there's a lot 'cos I am VERY messy😁😁), because I saw a technique to reuse them to make backgrounds.

And that is the challenge at CAS Mix Up this month.
(If you've not done this technique before there are some videos over at the challenge blog!)

So here's my card -  

I had a small piece of watercolour card left over from a previous make so I took my dried paper towel, laid it on top and liberally spritzed it with water.

Pressing down on it the colour transferred onto the watercolour card - I was more than a little pleased with myself  when I lifted it off and was left with this soft pastel background in shades of yellow and pink.

The die cut was another scrap piece of watercolour card and I coloured with Distress Inks. I adore cherry blossoms - you know that once they flower spring is here.

A square card for this make, as the die seemed to look better inside the circle aperture.
A stamped sentiment and a few sequins to finish.

Here's my paper towel!
Mostly Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade and Fossilized Amber  (I think!).

Am also sharing over at Uniko, the Playground, the Flower Challenge  and Make My Monday this week.
Thanks for taking the time to look at my blog today and if you have left me a comment, I am really grateful!
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Just Beachy!

This is another one of those cards that didn't really end up like I thought it would!
Looking back I had no idea how it would turn out as I simply wanted to try out the Ghosting technique again. 

I have lots of odd pieces of watercolour card perfect for practicing with (Playground for me!) so made a couple of backgrounds using different colours - mostly blue and greens with varying degrees of success and this one which was done in shades of orange DI's, lifting the colour by spraying with water, leaving for a few seconds and lifting the stencil off.

The stencil is by That's Crafty.

I stamped and embossed the shell and the sentiment in gold and cut the frames and sentiment frame from the left over base card - there was no waste left from this particular piece of card!

The shells were collected from a trip last year and the seed beads were from my stash.

I am not sure if this is CAS enough for the CAS Stencil challenge but am linking anyway!

Also linking at the Mixed Media Must Use a Stencil challenge at Stamplorations

A2S+M - Holiday (and right now I can't wait to get on a beach somewhere!)

The Card Concept also have a lovely Inspiration Pic and I chose the shells and the overall beachy theme to inspire this make.

My kitchen floor has finally been laid today - the whole project has taken 7 weeks - there is just the skirting boards to be fixed now so my house is almost back to normal!

Thanks for visiting today - have a great day whatever you are doing! x