Countdown?

 NUMBERS is the challenge at TRY IT ON TUESDAY.

I'd already made my mind up to use the Woodware numbers stencil  as it was the only thing I could think of.... but then sat looking at it wondering what else I could do!

Remembering a very old Visible Image stamp set  I rooted about until I found it. The numbers stamp and the sentiment are from that set - it's called Time after Time - and have no idea how long I have had it - except I think it might have been one of the first VI sets I ever bought!

Inks used - Cracked Pistachio and Tumbled Glass.

I made two cards using the stencil - (the second one is scheduled for mid way through this challenge) -  as it was out of the desk I might as well use it, although it is not one of the stencils I like to use a lot - it's long and thin and moves about a lot as there's not a lot of places to stick tape to in order to make it secure. 

Was just glad that I came up with something on the theme! x

Chaos Kindness

A couple of weeks back I got some surprise happy mail.
Knowing that I was coveting a certain stamp set a really kind blogging buddy (Thank you Sarn!x) sent me some stamped and embossed images - and also some masks 'just in case'!
Just a lovely gesture and I was really grateful.

Using the masks over the flower heads, I opted for an ink blended background using Salvaged Patina DI as a base (love this colour!).

Added some other colours and made an abstract design with the edge of some acetate blending outwards.
The 'create' word came from an old red rubber Typography set which I have had for an eternity!

A few flicks with a black Posca pen added some spatters.
Once the piece was matted, I went to put it on a white card base and didn't like it - so simply blended a little of the base colour onto the base card.

Sharing over at
Alphabet - E for Easy
Krafty Chicks - Stamp Act

We have had some glorious sunshine this week - summer finally arrived!
Thanks for visiting - hope the sun is shining wherever you are too! x

Flower

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

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

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

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

The word 'flower' is a Visible Image stamp.

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

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

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

CAS Mix Up - July Challenge

This month's challenge at CAS Mix Up is called 'Stencil Tracing' and has been set by Nancy.

There are a couple of ways to do this really simple technique - Nancy has links on her blog to several different examples and there's also plenty of inspiration from the DT over at the CAS Mix Up blog.

We also have "Three" very talented Guest Designers this month as they all were
Top Picks for the May CAS Mix Up, CAS Stencil and CAS Watercolour Challenges:-)

Be sure and check out Greta (GG Creations), Sandie (London Days) and Kia (Kia's Place)

Gorgeous CAS Creative Stencil Tracing cards

This is a one layer card that took very little time to do - the longest time part was masking off the actual face and leaving the rest!

The stencil is from Funky Fossil and I blended some bright coloured inks (Violet/Raspberry/Amber).
Before removing the stencil I outlined it with a black sharpie.
Some ink spattering and a little blending round the edge of the card to finish before stamping the Visible Image sentiment.

Once completed I thought that maybe it wasn't 'CAS' enough as I went a bit mad with the ink spatters!  In the end the consensus was that there was definitely enough uncluttered space to qualify. 

This is the second month of our new look CAS Mix Up and hope to see you in the gallery!
Happy Stencilling! x

Stamping Sensations Mid Month reminder

We're half way through our June 'Make It Colourful' challenge at Stamping Sensations. 

There's some lovely creations in our gallery and you still have time to join in!

I have used a stamp from our sponsor Visible Image (Ink Splats Set)  which is sadly 😭 no longer available but I love it!

I combined it with a brick background stencil, a large sentiment stamp from Bee  Crafty and some other grungey inky stamps from another very old set to make a quick card which was for a young man who is about to embark on the next exciting chapter of his life.

I thought the sentiment was perfect to remind him that he only gets one chance and to make the most of everything that comes his way!


More inspiration (if you need it) over on the challenge blog along with our rules (please read!) and of course details of the prize!
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x     

June Challenge at Stamping Sensations

Mid way through the year! It's true that time really does fly past the older you get!
This month at Stamping Sensations we have the wonderful Visible Image as our sponsors and I have used one of their older sets called 'Free Your Imagination' - some of the stamps from my set are still available in the new updated set here

Our challenge is to 'Make It Colourful' (and please remember we are a stamping challenge so stamps have to be the focal point of your work)

I used the smaller feather stamp and (with the aid of my Misti) stamped the feathers in Distress Ink colours before adding the sentiment.

The splats and the circles are from an old grungey set (make unknown) and to finish I stamped a few Inkylicious birds.

Pop over to the challenge blog for details of the prize and while you're there take a look at some of the wonderful creations from our Design Team this month!

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

Rat Pack

I treated myself recently to some of Sarah's fab Funky Fossil Design stencils. (Well you simply have to have a treat now and then don't you????😁😁 )

Thing is there are so many wonderful designs it's hard to choose!
But here's one which I loved as soon as I saw it - called The Rat Pack. It arrived the day after I placed the order - how good a service is that?!

I mixed it with a sentiment stamp from Visible Image's  'Brighten the World' set and the skyline from  'The Right Direction'.

Die cut and watercoloured my Manhattan Skyline and mounted it all onto black card using a bit of Black Soot DI round the edges.

The light here is not the best as once again we have been treated to a deluge of rain, sleet and snow so the pic is not the sharpest or brightest - will try and amend that as soon as we get a good day for picture taking!

Linking up to -
Craft Stamper - A/goes
Cardz4Guyz - Use Ink/Paint
AP2S - Masculine
Mix It Up -A/Goes + Stencilling


Thanks for looking today - hope you are warm and dry in your part of blogland! x

Boy Racer!

February 14th is a special day as it is DH's birthday!
When he was (much) younger he owned a silver Ford Capri which (according to him) was the best car in the entire universe🚀, it went fast ⛐⛐ and was his first love💕
(He obviously thought it might turn him into a demi god or something...... 💋💋😁)
Last year Visible Image brought out a stamp set entitled 'In The Right Direction' which featured a Ford Capri and I was tempted to buy it but didn't. Anyway whilst away this week my friend (who is just embarking on becoming like the rest of us and completely hooked on crafting) took me to a craft shop near where she lives.
Fate definitely played a hand as there on the sale rail were Visible Image stamp sets reduced to £8.40 and a double whammy of 3 for 2 offer - and there was one single 'In the Right Direction' set left!
(Of course 2 other sets found there way into the basket - you can't leave a bargain can you????) 

Thing was, I bought the stamp Wednesday, we travelled home yesterday and his birthday is today - so I made a very quick card last night.
HE LOVED IT despite me making it in about 30 minutes flat!

We had a lovely few days away (craft shop not withstanding!)  and the Tutankhamun Exhibition

at the Saatchi Gallery in London was awesome.

I took tons of pics - (far too many to share on this post) - it was such a special day and one which I will remember. 

I know people say you can see all these treasures in Cairo but we are highly unlikely to ever travel there and to be able to see the exquisite artefacts up close was just wonderful.
The amazing workmanship and attention to detail was incredible and the sheer beauty of some of the pieces took your breath away - it is impossible to imagine what it would have been like to be first into that gold and jewel strewn tomb!

Hope all is well in your part of blogland! x

Mid month reminder - Stamping Sensations

It's half way through the month so here is my mid moth reminder post for our challenge at Stamping Sensations with Visible Image  offering a £25 voucher to our winner - so if you haven't already joined in, you still have time!
For our June month the theme is 'Show Your True Colours'. So we want to see projects with your favourite colours.......
As I mentioned in my first DT post here - I simply do NOT have a favourite colour! So after my fave 3 Distress Oxides colours used, this time for my mid month reminder I have used my fave Pixie Powder and Brusho colours (with a bit of blingy gold thrown in) as I love Autumn colours!

The stamps are Visible Image 'Time After Time'.

I stamped the clock and gold embossed, then stamped again and fussy cut the centre dial. I gave the centre piece a liberal dose of Glossy Accents after rubbing over with a dry paintbrush of Antique Linen DI.
The wings were done the same minus the Glossy Accents and I gold embossed the sentiment which is from the same stamp set.

The inky panel was done on watercolour card and I used Antique Copper (which is yummy!), Straw Yellow PP's and Dark Brown Brusho.
Overstamped the 'Time Flies' using Vintage Photo DI.
The gold highlights on the panel were achieved with Cosmic Shimmer Powder in Pale Gold.

Mounted the panel onto dark brown card and popped it onto an embossed background. (I wanted to use my Clocks folder but it wasn't big enough!)

Hope you can join us this month!

June Challenge at Stamping Sensations

So here we are with another challenge at Stamping Sensations and the wonderful Visible Image are offering a £25 voucher to our winner!
For our June month the theme is 'Show Your True Colours'. So we want to see projects with your favourite colours.......
I found this an impossible challenge!😕😕 How do I pick my favourite colours? I like all of them!!
So having found the theme difficult I thought about the colours I use MOST when making cards.
That too was a difficult choice!  I was saved by having to do 2 posts - this one and one for the mid month reminder - so I was able to show the colours that I use a lot on the 2 cards!

First one is a combo of some of my fave Distress Oxides.
Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon and Peacock Feathers.
Made an inky background bending all 3, then used a Visible Image Crackle background stamp inking it in the same 3 colours and doing some random stamping.
Once dry, I used a brick Mini Stencil sponging it with Peacock Feathers.
The circle stamps are from VI's Rays of Light set.

I love this large sentiment (also from Visible Image) and I placed 'Hope' (Banksy's girl) touching it like she was reaching for the bunch of hearts.

Please visit the challenge blog and read the rules before submitting an entry!
Thanks for visiting. x