Summer Blooms

We're definitely in the middle of Summer here and our challenge for the next 2 weeks at TRY IT ON TUESDAY is called Summer Blooms. 

Whilst having a look through saved stuff I came across an image which as well as being really pretty, it also meant I could use up some coloured card from the cardstock mountain!
It's been a long time since I bought any coloured card - and also a long time since I used any too!

The stamps are from Altenew and I coloured the image with Aquarelle pencils before fussy cutting and sticking to the coloured base.

I hope you'll go visit the challenge blog and the rest of the DT and look forward to seeing what 'Summer Blooms' you share with us!
 
Have a lovely day! x

Summer at Try It On Tuesday

Our challenge for the next two weeks at Try It On Tuesday is called 'Summer'.
This is a wide ranging theme and can be anything that you relate to summertime - holidays, travel,or even bikinis!

In the absence of Mojo (and not motivated enough to sit in the craftie space for long as whenever I do I end up staring at all the stash and just feeling completely overwhelmed and devoid of ideas!), I went back to an old design.

I really like Cardio stamps as you can create scenes with little effort really which is good for me at the moment.

For a change I used some pastels for the sky and sea instead of my normal inks- the effect is quite nice I think as it's a softer look.

Thanks for looking today and hope you will join in with us this time - you have two weeks! Please go over to the challenge blog too and see what the rest of the team have done - all visits are very much appreciated.

Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

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

Stamping Sensations September Challenge

September already!
Here's my card for our September challenge at Stamping Sensations where we have a theme of 'Something beginning with 'B'.
Lovely Bee Crafty is our sponsor  -

I have a few 'B's on my card! Beach, birds, bark, a (life) Buoy and Birthday!

I have had this stamp for a long time - bought as a pre loved one and this is the first time I have inked it. It's rubber as opposed to my fave clear ones so always panic about positioning - particularly as there is no wood backing to even help line it up in the correct place!The MISTI helps but I still panic cos I can't see it!

Stamped it onto the cardstock, stamped again onto a piece of scrap and cut out then masked it off whilst I made the background scene with distress inks and my duster brushes. I have slowly got more confidence doing cards like these and there's something quite therapeutic about making a picture!

The grasses and 'sandhills effect' are from an Inkylicious set I think (no packaging!).
The main image was coloured with DI's too.
A little bit of string to secure the sentiment tag - job done!

Linking up over at
Allsorts- Things with Wings
Crafty Friends - Animales or Birds
ATS&M - Make your Mark
heARTful - A/goes

Summer and the mad month ahead

It has been an age since I have been able to find some time to post. I have been busy at British Isles Championships and International series all over the place - the men and women are at different places and times as are the Under 25's!
But the weather was kind (too hot on many occasions) and I have a few days at home before the August madness of the National Championships. A whole month away from my own bed and am hoping that the weather stays dry!

My craft time has been limited to making baubles like they're going out of fashion -(they are really popular and now have mastered the inking and glittering!), catching up with my Design Team inspiration (😏) for the next few months and satisfying my craving to make a few cards for the stash.

Thought this image from All Dressed Up was awesome and I have enjoyed using it!
Background created on watercolour card.
Sky ink duster brushed with Tumbled Glass - I made the 'clouds' template by using scalloped scissors!
The sea was watercoloured in shades of blue and the sand was also watercoloured using Scattered Straw DI. I randomly overstamped with a stamp from Inkylicious

The girl on the deck chair was coloured with Promarkers. On reflection I should have printed her out on watercolour card also instead of the plain white card which necessitated the promarkers rather than my paints.
I coloured her in, cut her out and popped her onto the beach!
The sentiment is a NBUS and I thought it fitted perfectly.

Ironing and packing are the order of the day for tomorrow and then I will be off. I hopefully though will be able to get some internet where I am staying (although it is a little remote - in glorious countryside so I can relax away from the greens).
Thank you for continuing to come and visit and leave me comments - I love hearing from you. x 

Joining in at
ADU July - Anything Goes
Craft Rocket - Summer
MMM - Coloured Image
Sisterhood of Crafters - Summer Vacation
PIP - Summer Days

A Change

Have had two full days at home this week!
Put the washing in as soon as we walked through the door Thursday night (about 11.30pm), managed to get it all dry and ironed yesterday, packed again for this week (away again tomorrow!) and then sat down today in my much missed craftie space for a couple of hours.
Straight after my tour (the one here in England not the one abroad) a friend lent us the use of their static caravan on the South Coast. We had a lovely couple of 'down time' days, much needed and it was really nice to relax.
I collected a few shells from some walks along the beach and we generally just lazed about for 3 days. WONDERFULLY FABULOUS!!
I wanted to give them something to say thank you so this is what I've done......

Apologies for the shadows on the pic - it was a right palaver trying to get a decent photo at all!

So I started off with a piece of left over watercolour paper, (might just get in under the gates before it's dark in the Playground then.....) painted the sky with watered down Stormy Sky DI. Masked off the bottom half and did a bit of sponging with Shabby Shutters, Forest Moss and Crushed Olive to make a grassy hill then masked again and used watered down Salty Ocean for the sea.

The sand is sandpaper! Stamped the birdies (Wetlands - SU), ripped the sandpaper and then went over the torn edge with white wax pastel. Ran the same pastel along the sea to make something that remotely resembles waves.

The yacht was on a sheet of laser cut thingies that I bought simply years ago - found it when I was in the drawers looking for the sandpaper - I just snipped it off and stuck it down - surprisingly it looks like the boats on the Solent where we were.
The shells were from those collected and I added a tiny bit of string - for no other reason than it was well - just there in the drawer!
The shadow box frame was painted with white acrylic paint (suitably thinned) then I used a large flat brush and dragged Iced Spruce DI across it.

I am actually rather happy with this - It's only a small piece - about 4 inches square, and I really hope the recipients like it too. It's been a long time since I've done anything other than cards - well in fact it's been a long time since I've done - well- anything!!!
So am sharing this little thank you present with the following challenges -
Scrap + Craft - A/Goes with String (and I know it's only a small piece but it IS String!)
SOTSS - B is for Beach
A Inky Mess - Anything Mixed media
Rubber Dance - Inspiration Photo

Thanks for taking the time to look and I love reading your comments - promise to be round to visit you all very soon. x

Dreams of Summer!

Nice sunny day here but autumn definitely upon us as there's a definite chill in the air. Got me to thinking though when I saw the beautiful blue sky, of warm sunny summer days - then I remembered this stamp. Part of a set of 2 (the other is just a smaller beach hut) and I was fortunate enough to win them a long time ago in a challenge.
I have used them both a couple of times and hunted them out again this morning when I made this -

Get your sunglasses on!!!!

Image stamped with Versamark, then coloured with Distress Inks.
Papers are old (very old!) from my stash as is the hessian strip.

The sentiment was a freebie download, I added a yellow button for the sun and a couple of charms - a flip flop for the girl and a pair of swimming shorts for the boy!
Inside decorated to match.

As I am typing this I'm thinking that I am probably going to have to put the heating on - cos it definitely isn't flip flop and swimming shorts weather now!

Challenges -
Creative Moments - Spots/Stripes
Southern Girls - Stripes
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
HIMCR - Any Holiday (and I chose SUMMER!)
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting and if you've left a comment I appreciate you taking the time! x

Summertime!

WOW - 2 weeks since my last post! Been super busy and away from home but enjoying every minute. (Pic to share at bottom of post)

 Am only just finding time to do the washing and ironing on my days at home before I have to pack up again and load the car for another road trip - home this time until Wednesday then am off to Scotland!

A quick post and card from me just in case any of you thought I'd stopped blogging - I haven't!  There's just longer times between posts!

Used up old papers for this card too and continued the theme inside.
It was quick and easy - but perfect to satisfy my crafting cravings with so little time.
I may yet colour the sand and sky - haven't made my mind up!

I've also found time to finish a commissioned diamond anniversary card which will share with you all at some point.

Challenges -
Gem of a Challenge - Summertime
Di's Digi's - Summer Fun
Stampin Boutique - Summer Fun
APWP - Nautical
Digi Sketch - Holidays by the Sea

So that's it from me for the next few days - am coming calling this evening whilst I just have a glass of vino and a chill out - there was too much excitement here -
 when England Ladies won the International Series!

Lets hope the men do the same this week in Scotland!

Thanks for calling in -  I appreciate you following and commenting.
Happy days to you all until I get back. xx

Summer's Day

My blogging and commenting has been sporadic lately to say the least, so if I haven't been round to you lately I promise I will do so!
I have been really busy and feel like I am constantly playing catch up - didn't work this hard when I was gainfully employed!! LOL

Anyway, before I have to go out again I have a card to share.
I made this earlier this week - locked myself away for a couple of spare hours- and as time again was short opted for a CAS style.
I inked up the background using Distress Inks in shades of blue, stamped a couple of flying birds and punched out a 'sun'.
The image is by Stampin Up and is one of a small pile previously stamped that I am currently working through.
Pained also in Distress Inks, I cut round the little boy and his sandcastle, sponging a tiny amount of blue to the edges where they meet the 'sea'.
I stuck him to the inside of a die cut square frame cut from linen textured card and then used 3d foam poads to raise him and the frame up from the background.
The shells and starfish were fussy cut after stamping and the sentiment is I think by Papermania.
Challenges -
Dream valley - Summer
Crafty Little fairies - Summer Fun
Inky Impressions - Summer Fun
Creative card Crew - Beach/sea
Addicted to Stamps - CAS
Fresh Brewed - Seaside
Cardz 4 Guys - At the Beach

It's a glorious day here - hope I can find some time later to sit out and relax in the warm sunshine!
Have a great day whatever you're doing and thanks so much for looking! x

Fun in the Sun - Crafty CardMakers DT

Our latest challenge at Crafty CardMakers is being hosted by Lin, who has chosen the theme 'Fun in The Sun' - think she's testing her memory!!

We have as always two great sponsors - Saturated Canary and Sir Stampalot - so to be in with a chance of grabbing one of their fab prizes come and join us - (just make sure you follow the challenge rules as shown on the blog!)

I used this yummy image from Krista called 'Toes in the Sand' - isn't she just gorgeous - and obviously all that surfing has contributed to her amazing WAISTLINE!!!

The backing paper is from Raspberry Road and I distressed and inked the edge with Antique Linen DI. 

Image was coloured with promarkers, cut out and mounted onto 3d foam pads for a bit of dimension.

The 'Beach Rules' sign is also from Raspberry Road and it seemed to fit perfectly! I used some old twine and a few brads to secure.

The hessian was torn from pieces in my stash, the shells have been collected from various holidays (see- I do sometimes do more than just laze about in the sun!! LOL) and the beautiful green sea glass was a present from a fellow crafter.

A little peek at the inside - 
same papers and other elements used and added a tiny silver sea horse to the bottom of the frame which has been left blank to write on.

Other Challenges -
ALBC - Summer Sun 
I Love Promarkers - Summertime
The Crafters Cafe - At the Beach
C2CU - Summer Days/Beach Colours
Anything Goes - By the Sea 
Crafts For Eternity - Summer Sun


Hope you can share your fun and sun projects with us this challenge!
Have a great day! x