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

Just Beachy!

I made something similar to this some time ago as a thank you to a friend who had given us the use of their beautiful lodge down on the South coast for a few days break.

Whilst having a sort out I found this square shadow box so I replicated the scene only on a much smaller scale. The scene measures just 3".

It was a project that I enjoyed doing although I am fast running out of wall space - I have a tiny spot in the downstairs cloakroom for this!

Heavy watercolour card for the background as I wanted some texture and some loose watercolouring.

The boat was in a box of bits - at some point it came from a laser cut sheet I think - that long ago I've forgotten. It was a little tatty but once glued it looked OK!

The 'sand' is in fact sandpaper ( dear husband won't notice that a little scrap has gone from his tool box!).

I sponged some Gesso along the torn edge to try and replicate foam (not sure I managed it) as the waves reach the beach

The shells are really small but I collect a few every time we go to a beach - I am actually quite fascinated by sea shells - I love the tactile feel of them and the array of colours.
These were from a trip to one of my fave beaches in the North of Scotland at Lossiemouth.
The 'rope' is a tiny scrap of string.

The outside of the box was given a wash of gesso and some light brushing of Weathered Wood randomly.

Linking up at
TIOT _ Here comes Summer

I hope the sun is shining in your part of blogland! x

Birthday

Having ventured outside in the howling gale earlier I quickly made my mind up that the best place to be was sat in the warm in the craft space!
So here is today's share.

Stencilled background to start then stamped the ferns in shades of brown and a few meadow grasses in green.

The flowers were stamped, watercoloured and fussy cut.
I added a few drops of Perfect Pearls in the centre

I would never hurt a bee but I am not fond of them near me - (I hate wasps even more!), so to me the best place for me to look at a bee is here on a card!

It took a bit of fussy cutting but I managed it in the end.

He has glossy accents on his wings and I quite like him (as long as he stays on the card!)

Am linking up at
A2S+M - Any Occasion
Unicorn  - Flowers

Thanks for calling in - stay safe wherever you are in the World. x

January mid month at Stamping Sensations

If you are here looking for my CAS Stencil DT card please scroll down to the next post or click on the link HERE

Half way through the first month of 2020 and here's a reminder for this month's challenge at Stamping Sensations
The challenge is to 'Use your Favourite Stamps' - which is simply impossible for me!! I have so many stamps that I like it is really hard to choose a favourite one so I have opted to use a set which sees ink quite a bit!

Lots of second and third generation stamping on bright white card using stamps from Stampin' Up's Flowering Fields set.

Inked the stamps using distress markers and spritzed some before stamping - quite like the watercolour effect!

This was quick and simple to do and brilliant for last minute makes!

There's still plenty of time for you to join us and to be in with a chance of winning!  Please though have a look at our rules before you link up!

Our prize this month is sponsored by the wonderful Tattered Lace.

So get making and linking, go over to the challenge blog, check out the inspiration from my teamies and whilst you're there have a look at the prize!

Mid Month - Stamping Sensations August Challenge

Here's my mid month reminder for you for our 'Things with Wings'  challenge at Stamping Sensations.

The butterflies are from an SU stamp set stamped in Versafine Crimson red,  fussy cut and popped on with foam pads for a bit of dimension.

The script stamp and leaf stamp are from my stash and are that old I have no idea what make they are!

If you've not joined us this month there's still plenty of time - the challenge runs until 28th.

And the prize from out great sponsors Rubber Dance is DEFINITELY worth having - Go to the blog to see!  Please read our challenge rules carefully before submitting your entry - we are a STAMPING challenge!
 Also sharing over at -
Alphabet Challenge - K for Kind Thoughts
Cardz 4 Galz -  Wings

Thanks for looking! I'll be back later today with my reminder for CAS Stencil! x

Raindrops

Found some time this morning to sit in the craftie space and hoped Mr Mojo appeared. He refused to show his face at all yesterday but I have noticed that when other things are going in in real life sometimes it is really difficult to conjure up enthusiasm for paper and ink....!!
Thankfully CAS Stencil provided me with something to concentrate on this morning and also helped me dispose of a scrap piece of background which has been getting shifted from one side of the desk to another for a while!

The challenge to use a stencil over a coloured background provided the perfect opportunity to use up this piece of blue inky background.

I used a small Raindrops stencil and after sponging the white ink, I clear embossed.

















Quite happy with the effect the clear embossing gave the drops!

The umbrella is from SU's Weather Together set, stamped in Versafine Majestic Blue onto a snippet of card and fussy cut.
The sentiment is from the same set and I used another sentiment 'I'm here for you' on the inside.

Also sharing my card with -

MTTC - CAS
Alphabet - C for CAS
Pixies Playground
TTPH - Blues

We have a sunny day here with no sign of raindrops thankfully - but my it is COLD!!
Hope the sun is shining where you are and thanks for taking the time to come and see me! x

Inky Happiness

Some free time saw me get out the inks and watercolour card. It was really nice to make my fingers different colours!
I have many stamps.
Not all of them have seen ink.😏
Some of them have rarely seen ink.😞
Some of them have seen that much ink they cower in the back of the stamp box praying I don't inflict any more ink on them 😱😱

This SU set is in the middle category.
I think perhaps I have only used it twice before but Serene Stamper Tina has used it and I thank Tina for reminding me that it was time to 'get out your poor neglected stamp sets and DO something!!'

Watercolour card, after stamping the blossoms I took a wet brush, some Calypso Coral ink and painted.

Same with the leaves.
Once dry, I dry brushed Shabby Shutters DI over the rest of the front.

The sentiment is from the Faith in Nature set (First category - see above) stamped in Calypso Coral.

I tipped out all the ribbons and couldn't find a single one that matched. How can you have lots of lovely ribbons and still not have something that looks right??!!
So - the boring old white seam binding was given a sharp dose of Abandoned Coral DI.
Serves it right for being plain and boring!😲

Quite smug now 'cos it turned out better than I expected!


Challenges -
Crafty Sentiment Designs - Spring
A.I  - A/Goes with Flowers
Get Creative - use Ribbon
Path of Positivity - #56
Crafty Catz - A/Goes with Ribbon

Hoping that you all are OK in blogland. Thanks for any comments you leave me - love to read them and appreciate every single one. x

More Flowers

Mid month is here for our challenge at Stamping Sensations on the theme of 'Anything With Flowers'.

My turn to offer another card using a technique which I have only just perfected.
(After finding out I had been doing things incorrectly and abandoning the Brushos I now am having fun using them!)
So here is what I hope will inspire you to join in this month (if you haven't done so already!)

I liberally wet the watercolour card then sprinkled on the Brushos (Orange and Lemon).
I was really happy when it turned out like this!

Script stamp over the background then the flowers from the SU Helping Me Grow set.
I coloured the flowers with the Brushos too - Another first for me!

I hope you like my card.
Please pop over to the Stamping Sensations blog and check out the fab prize we have this month from Bee Crafty.
My teamies have posted some great cards too!

I am also sharing this make over at
Crafty Sentiments - Add Flowers
HLS Watercolour - A.Goes
Dragonfly Dreams - Flowers
Fashionable Stamping - One for the Girls
Thanks for stopping by today and I hope all is well with you in your part of Blogland. x

Flowers

We have a 'ANYTHING WITH FLOWERS' theme for our February challenge at Stamping Sensations. 
Please remember we are a STAMPING challenge so must see a stamped image/sentiment as the focal point of your entry.
I needed a 'Thank You' card and couldn't find one in my stash!
I made this after seeing something similar on Pinterest (where else!)- this was a relatively quick card to do.

 I used Antique Linen DI on the background and a little bit of Tea Dye round the edges.
A few random stampings using Timeless Textures set and a 'chicken wire' stamp to give a bit of interest to the background.

The main stamp is from SU's Helping Me Grow set.
I coloured it with Inktense Watercolours, and added a bit of white gel pen to the flowers.

Matted it onto cream card then added the ribbon before layering it up onto the sandy coloured base card.

Hope you can find time to join us this month - we have a great prize on offer £25 worth of goodies from our sponsors Bee Crafty!

Have a great day whatever you're all doing!

Star

A bit of using up the paper mountain here!

I have had these heavyweight papers for ages - I bought them at a local fair several years ago - in fact I bought a pack with pastel colours and a lady who I have never met bought a pack of dark colours and we sat on the floor (no seats -  the place was packed) and divided up the two packs as neither of us wanted the whole one!

Needless to say as is usual with me, I used a couple of them and then the rest got packed away.
Found them whilst looking for pale blue card!

The star is from SU. I have used it a lot and is probably one of my more sensible Christmas Stamp buys.

I used Versa Magic 'Aquatic Splash' ink - it was a great colour match with the papers - and clear embossed.

I didn't buy the dies that matched the stamp set as I thought they were very expensive - and after all even I couldn't mess up cutting round a star shape.... (the second layer hides the bit I took out of the bottom star)
A little bit of glitter round the edges and dotted here and there and assembled when dry.
The script die was another indulgence - first time of use.......
Another card finished!
Challenges -
Crafting w/Dragonflies - Non Trad card with bling
Sweet Stampers - Christmas
Monochrome Magic - Anything Goes

I finished my round of County Presentations last Saturday. I have taken the battery out of the bathroom scales after all the food I have eaten at these lunches and dinners.
I only have 4 more duties left before I hand over the chain of office at the end of February. My year has almost finished!
There is one more event for me before Christmas - the Ladies National Presentation this weekend. The BIG ONE! Long frock, high heels and gold nails! Oh and yes - the speech to millions present - eek!!
Looking forward to having a bit of 'me' time in December!
Enjoy your week whatever you're doing and thanks for visiting! x

Quick Christmas

We travelled to Dorset last week then on to the Isle of Wight - both Ladies Presentations and both enjoyed very much.
Drove home last night and confess to being dog tired.... have changed the bed and done all the washing and sat down here determined that today and tomorrow I am going to make something particularly as I am now aware it is almost November and I need Christmas cards!
Decided this year that most/all will be CAS and quick and trying to make them in batches of four.
Here's the first -

this is one layer and was done using Bright and Beautiful set from SU.

Am a tad disappointed in the pic (aren't I always) as the stars are actually quite reflective/shiny - I used an Encore Ultimate Metallic Gold Ink Pad - and it really is lovely ink!

The sentiment is one of my very first Christmas stamps and I love the script.
Just added a few little gems for added sparkly.

I made four of these - am going to have another go on dark cardstock and emboss the stars - and if I run out of other one layer ideas then there likely will be more in different colours!

My Presentations are not yet over - have a few more then I have the Ladies National Presentation Dinner at the end of next month - cue long frock!!! My year finishes at the end of February with the Men's National Dinner.... so no doubt another long dress will be required (any excuse!).

I hope all is well with you all here in blogland. Have a few days to myself this week so will try and see you all - if you're still showing up in my Reading List - as Mr Blogger appears to have banished you all to cyberspace.....
Am linking up to Christmas Card Challenges  and Christmas at Sweet Stampin' who both have Anything Goes challenges and also to CASe this Sketch - which you can see here.

Have a great day whatever you're doing. x
  

Crossing the Sea

Today sees the start of the new challenge at Stamping Sensations - and for June we have Visible Image as our generous sponsors.
The challenge is to 'Use Your Favourite Stamp'.

How difficult is that???? I have lots of stamps I like and it is impossible to choose a favourite so instead I chose one that I have used a lot as it is I think a great versatile background.

I used it on a lot of ordinary occasion cards - Birthdays, Get Well, Sympathy altering the look by masking and stamping small areas rather than the whole background and adding other stamps. (examples HERE and HERE)

This time I used the entire stamp inked in Certainly Celery.

Not sure why I chose green as the background colour instead of blue considering the 'sea' reference but it looks OK!

The large ship stamp was by Flonzcraft, inked in Smokey Grey and stamped several times to obtain the depth of colour I wanted.

The sentiment stamp is from another set, stamped onto left over card, edges distressed and 'hung' with a bit of string and a brad.
A bit of embellie - a scrap of hessian and a tiny seahorse - couldn't resist!

Hope you can find the time to join in with us this month - am currently away on my travels again but hoping to find a spare hour to visit everyone! x  

Close to Nature

Time for another challenge at Stamping Sensations - this month our theme is 'CLOSE TO NATURE' and if you pop over to the challenge blog you will see the fab prize we have on offer and some delights that the DT have produced to inspire you.  
TRUST ME - YOU WILL WANT TO HAVE A CHANCE AT WINNING THE A-MA-ZING PRIZE THIS MONTH!!
Please remember - WE ARE A STAMPING CHALLENGE - AND WE NEED TO SEE STAMPING AS THE FOCAL POINT OF YOUR PROJECT. 

I decided it was time for a change so I have made a large tag this month!
It may end up of the front of a card at some point...

Inkiness all over the place here.... Rusty Hinge, Old Paper, Antique Linen DI applied with duster brushes all over the tag first.

Script stamp from Indigo Blu inked in Vintage Sepia, stamped on an odd piece to remove excess then stamped onto the tag.
'Chicken Wire' stamp applied the same way.

Flower from SU's Butterfly Basics coloured with Peacock Feather DI mixed with a little bit of cosmic shimmer, a dab of orange in the centre, Forest Moss DI for the leaves  and then the sentiment stamped in Versamark Espresso Truffle Ink.
The word 'beautiful' was a stamp waiting to be put away and just laying on the desk - so I used it!!

The butterfly is also from Indigo Blu. Stamped, coloured it with a little  Peacock Feather DI then fussy cut. Popped it up onto the tag with 3D foam for dimension.
Finished it all off with a triple seam binding bow.

Challenges
Go Tag Thursday - Butterflies
Creative Stamper - Springtime
Craft Rocket - No Patterned Paper
Sweet Stampin - No designer paper
PB & More - A/Goes

Hope you will join in with us this month! Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Uninspired!

I have had a non productive week as far as anything crafty is concerned as I have been busy with lots of admin stuff.
As with all things mojo-wise when you are busy doing other things I have struggled to make anything and desperate for some inkiness card I began an internet trawl.
I thank the person who came up with the CAS idea in the first place as it allowed me to make 2 cards - both the same design but in different colours.

These are going into my stash and hopefully will get sold for my charity sometime this season.

The design ticks the boxes for me at the moment - I need CAS, which will not cost the earth to make, nor cost the earth to post  -  I can sell for just the same price as the card cost me to make and am keeping my fingers crossed that the low prices will encourage people to buy more!

I don't have a family who I can arm-twist into purchase so rely heavily on people I know!
These had to be 2 of the quickest cards I have made but I quite like them!

Thanks for visiting - will be round to see you all very soon - but for now back to the paperwork!

Challenges -
Star Stampz - Monochrome
Crafty Gals Corner - Add Ribbon
Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes
The Crafty Addicts - A./Goes - CAS

Saturday already?

Can someone tell me where this week went? Looking in at blogland I realised  my last post was Sunday! Normally I can put absences down to my other life (!!) - but confess that nothing from the bowling side has intruded this week so NO EXCUSE!!

I have though taken possession of something I coveted ever since I saw a sneak peek of them.. here it is - my new stamp set - Stampin Up's 'Beautiful You'. (Happy dance when it dropped through the door - thanks Sue!)

It is not usual for me to actually ACT on my 'I really want this stamp' thoughts particularly as I don't have a lot of crafting time with the Bowls England stuff - but I made an exception with this set - I SIMPLY HAD TO HAVE IT!
Out there in blogland I noticed that the set had been used on a dark card background so thought I would give it a try.
A bit of a change from my normal white (don't worry- the other stamps have been put onto white card!!) - but am actually quite happy with the result considering it is something I don't do very often.
Stamped image then used wax pastels. Had to overstamp as the pastels covered up the skirt folds (so thanks MISTI!)

Ran the white round the edge of the sea (OK I know it doesn';t really look like waves but you get the idea!) and made a little path in the sand. Stamped a couple of sand drifts using Fossilized Amber DI.
The sentiment is hiding a sin - tried to colour a sun and made a mess - so sentiment had to be stamped separately instead of direct across the sun - which was my original intention!

Challenges -
Daring Cardmakers - Try Something New
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Craft Rocket - Anything Goes
Craft 4 the Craic - Pick Me up ( and I can think of nothing better than a walk barefoot in the sand on a warm day to make you feel good!)
Thanks for having a look today - will be around in a little while to visit you all.
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x  

Floral Fancies

December! Scary thought - in just two months time I will become President of Bowls England - EEK!!!

My DT offering for this month at Stamping Sensations is this Birthday card and out theme is Floral Fancies.

We are sponsored by Sizzix, and please pop over to the blog and check out the prizes....as it's Christmas we are giving away 3 prizes this month- but remember before you get all excited and start crafting -
WE ARE A STAMPING CHALLENGE!
So you have to have stamping as the focal point of your project!

I recently got my hands on Stampin Up's Butterfly Basics (Bargain!). So have used it to create this card.

Done on ivory linen textured card for a change from my usual white.

The stamps are lovely.
I used Distress Marker Peeled Paint on the flower stem and leaves and teamed it with a Versamagic 'Old Rose' for the flower heads.
The background was stamped using 'Burnt Umber' Versamagic and the sentiment was done in Memento Rich Cocoa.

Just matted it onto a co-ordinating piece of card and done.

Pretty and delicate - (not a bit like me!)
Hope you find time to join us this month, but please observe our rules then it is fair for everyone.
(Have scheduled this as I am at a Presentation Lunch in Bedfordshire so hope Mr Blogger behaves and publishes!)
Update - Also linking to this challenge -
Crafters Cafe - Birthday

Another Star

I have a stack of dark pearlised card. I have no idea why I bought it (or even how long I have had it). I know that I have never used  any of it. Just another observation from the craftie space.

So having once again looked at the stack and then put it back where I found it completely devoid of any ideas as to what to do with it, imaging how happy I was a couple of days later to come across  a pic of a card made entirely by using dark cardstock!

I contained my excitement long enough to use up just a teeny bit of the said dark pearlised card. (Along with some glitter paper - another buy, hardly used).
I made a base card then used up the rest of the card to make the stars and sentiment, so it's over to the Playground for me! 

The SU Bright and Beautiful stamp and die set used for this make.
The large star embossed with silver EP  then simply stamped with Versafine Smokey Grey on the second layer.
The third star die cut from the glitter paper and finally the smallest star fussy cut after stamping the second size again and embossing.
A little sparklie in the middle! 

The sentiment is one if you follow my blog you will have seen before - it's an old stamp I use every single Christmas!
Ran an oddment square left over after making the base card through the Cuttlebug to give the background some depth.

Quite pleased with this - and whoever it was who came up with the idea of using really dark card is quite simply - a genius!! 
Navy and maroon next........!

Challenges -
Die Cutting Divas - Make it Sparkle
Cuttlebug Mania - Light in the Darkness
Holly Jolly - A/thing Christmas
CCC -  A/thing Christmas

Peacock Goose!

The sunshine has deserted us so far today although it is still very warm and humid. We had a big storm last night and likely will get another today judging by the sky!
I have a free day (as long as I ignore the housework!) so have a bit of time to go into the craftie space.
I have made another 'man' card. (Feel free to applaud - LOL)

The second one I have done like this and not my original design!

But I needed something to get me back into making after all the travelling and I appear to have left Mr Mojo at a bowls club somewhere - cos he deffo ain't here with me.

All the card is from SU. Mr Goose stamped onto a scrap of white card and the oddments from the main card layered behind. I painted his chest with a little Peacock Feathers DI!
Banner made with the rest of the card and three brads added.
Woodgrain background and the sentiment also from SU.

I might again have to have a look into my 'Inspiration' folder and case something as I am sat here with a blank desk and an even more blank mind!! I am really angry as for the first time in weeks I have a day where I can create and 'create' has disappeared!!

Challenges -
Addicted to Stamps - Make Your Mark
TIOT - All about Him
Tueday Throwdown - Man's World
Crafty Boots - Masculine
OLLCB - 1 for the Boys.

Thanks for having time to call by - if you find Mr Mojo please can you send him home?
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Friday!

The stamps in the SU 'Easy Events' set are small but are really good for making quick small notecards. Instead of making a small 3" square card like I intended I somehow ended up with this!

I had a little play with the flower 'thank you' stamp.
Stamped it several times in a line along a sheet of card  and coloured it using Cracked Pistachio DI.

Loaded the brush and flicked the paint across the card to get the tiny blobs.
Cut out the squares with a nestie then matted before layering onto the base card.
Greeting also stamped with Cracked Pistachio DI.

This must have looked OK cos when one of my friends saw it she took it straight away to put into her 'just in case I need one quickly' drawer!!

Instead of chopping up the stamped panel next time I think I will have a line of these cheerful little petals perhaps stamped onto an inked background...... and should I have highlighted one of the flowers on each of the tiles with some glossy accents???
(Just thinking out loud!!!)

Challenges -
Creative Corner - Spring Flowers
CRAFT - CAS
MAWTT - Spring Flowers
C4AS - Bingo (Flowers/Stamp/Girly)
Paper Shelter - Flowers everywhere

Had some reasonable weather this week and we have managed to get out and about a couple of days. Today however we are back to the usual grey skies and rain!
Hopefully the weekend will be drier! Enjoy your weekend! x   

Maybe not CAS enough?

Have had a week of doing lots of bitty stuff.... and feeling like I haven't really achieved anything! Made inky messy and a few background panels but then Mr Mojo went walkabout so they're all here piled on the desk looking very sad!
Made a Birthday Card last night for a friend tho' - so will share it.

First Confession - I do not like yellow!
Second Confession - I think this looks OK!
Third Confession - I wanted this to be CAS but am not sure it is CAS enough!

Used SU's Daffodil Delight ink for the wood stamp (also SU), for the flower heads (Clearly Besotted) and the greeting.
Green stems/tiny leaves inked in Certainly Celery.
Some twine and a couple of pearls - all done!


Even better, I used up some yellow card which has been laying about for ages!
I am trying to be a little more adventurous with using different coloured inks for stamping and to everyone out there who has given me inspiration to leave the black ink alone and do something different - thank you!

Challenges
Cardz 4 Galz- Springtime
Double D - Yellow
CASology - Cue Word 'Sprout'
CAS on Sunday - Flowers

It actually feels like Spring here today - some blue sky for a change (although the temperatures are not up to much!). Have a great day whatever you're doing. x