Simple!

 Try It On Tuesday's challenge this fortnight is called 'KEEP IT SIMPLE'.

I re-visited a technique which I really enjoy doing - Print Making with Die Cuts.
I have used this die for this technique several times and it never fails!  This little cone flower is one of my fave dies. It is an old one but think it is from Sizzix.
I used watercolour card painted it up and began pressing the die cut across a background piece.
This method gives some lovely artsy ethereal backgrounds - and seeing as how I am terrible at watercolouring is a cheats way of doing it!

It's also means you can do quick cards, leaving a large amount of white space but still have a bright focal point!
I used some textured hammered cardstock for the base card.
Thanks for stopping by.

This is a scheduled post as I am currently having my trip of a life time so forgive me for
1. Not commenting on your blogs for this challenge and
2. Being absent for the next few weeks!
See you all soon! x

For a Lady

The latest challenge at Try It On Tuesday starts today and our theme is 'FOR A LADY'.
Any project accepted as long as it fits our challenge theme so hope you can join us.

I've been painting recently so had a piece of watercolour card out on the desk and instead of putting it in the remains box I used it for this.

The left hand side background was smooshed and because it's watercolour card it absorbed it and made it more subtle than I actually intended but I think it works.
Blue, green and brown inks and for once the colours were where I wanted them - although I think maybe next time I might try lightly wetting the watercolour card first.

Stamps are a mix of Altenew and Rare Earth, used Walnut Stain ink and sprayed lightly before stamping.
Matted onto dark brown card.

Thanks for looking today - hope everything is well in your part of blogland! x

Midway reminder for Try It On Tuesday

 We're half way through our AUTUMN challenge at Try It On Tuesday so there's still time for you to enter!

I've done a small note card for my stash which measures 5"square.

I used watercolour card  and a stamp from Rubbernecker, (I've had it for a long time!).

Inked up the stamp using watercolour pens and gave a very light mist of water, then stamped.

Was happy how the first pass looked and there still seemed to be a little colour left on the stamp so did it again.
The secondary stamping didn't turn out quite as well as I hoped but it's not too bad!

A bit more watercolouring then cut it into 3 panels and popped it onto a die cut stitched frame.

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

Sublime

Time has simply flown and I am beginning to wonder what I am doing as I never seem to have a lot of time recently to do anything!

A friend's birthday is fast approaching and my card stash didn't have a lot in it so I have made this.

She is a no fuss or frills person but she does love her garden and birds so thought these stamps from Penny Black called Sublime would be perfect.

The little birdie is so cute!

Using watercolour card I stamped the floral spray off the edge a couple of times using Versafine Clair Fallen Leaves ink.

Images were coloured with Aquarelle pencils and the sentiment is from SU.

Sharing over at
Crafty Chicks - CAS
Cardz4Galz- Birds
Simply Clean and Simple - Off Centre
PB Saturday Challenge - Flowers

Thanks for looking today - hope all is well in your part of blogland! x

Blooms

 Perfect weather for the craft room - monsoon type conditions and heavy grey skies! A stark contrast to Europe who are in the grips of the most horrendous heat!

I have been playing about with black card recently - here is one I did a couple of days ago using an Altenew stamp set.

It was quite quick to do really - I spent more time messing about wondering how to place it on a UK card size than actually stamping and colouring!

Being a US company the frame is designed to fit on an A2 (?? I think??) card - a size that I have never used and is not one that you see a lot of here in the UK.

Stamped and heat embossed in gold then used metallic watercolours. I am loving these watercolours - the card has an incredible shimmer.
The sentiment is also part of the same set.

Once dry, I mounted it onto a piece of gold mirri card and ended up (after much debate) simply putting it centrally onto another piece of black card. It didn't look right on a white base, didn't fit properly on a 6 x 4, nor on a 5 x 5, looked daft on a 6 x 6 and at one point I was beginning to be sorry I had started in the first place!
Anyway to steal one of my Mum's sayings - "It'll do for now"!!!

Sharing over at
Beautiful Blossoms - A/Goes w/flowers
Creative Crafters - A/Goes
Crafty Addicts - A/Goes

Thanks for looking today - wherever you are in the world I hope you are safe and well. x

Autumn has come round fast!

Back home after a little break with some friends and on our little jaunts out it was really apparent that here in the UK Autumn has arrived. Doesn't seem that long ago when I was greeting the spring daffodils!

Another card inspired by the photograph taken on the recent walk (see photo here)  and back to CAS this time - although I have been going a little mad with inky backgrounds just recently, more of which will be shared in due course!

A simple watercoloured background (the pale blue sky hasn't shown up too well 😔) fading to a grey horizon and then the straw coloured wheat and wild poppy field.

The sentiment I have decided is definitely one which will be used often - as it is so true.

Sharing over at
Alphabet - N for Nature
Addicted to CAS - Autumn
Dragonfly Dreams- Autumn

Some time ago we were lucky to see a huge sculpture by Luke Jerram of the Earth, this week we saw another of his amazing works currently on show at Lichfield Cathedral - the Moon!

They are enormous, detailed and very accurate, (although obviously not to scale!). But just like the Floating Earth, his Moon sculpture is taken from actual images supplied by NASA so all the craters etc are actually what the surface is really like and in the exact places.

It makes you realise how small you are! Fabulous! Live in the Moment indeed.

CAS Mix Up Mid Month Reminder

Linda chose 'Things With Wings' for her theme for this month's watercolour challenge at CAS Mix Up.

Our friends recently celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary and I made this for them using a new Penny Black stamp set called 'How Sweet'.
A golden anniversary calls for gold embossing doesn't it?! And of course the flower had to be yellow!
The little hearts above my two love birds are from a really old set - but they didn't let me down and stamped and embossed beautifully.

Thanks for stopping by - hoping you will join us us this month - please pop over to the challenge blog and see whatthe rest of the DT have created! 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

CAS Mix Up September Challenge

CAS Mix Up September challenge is a WATERCOLOUR one and the theme is AUTUMN COLOURS which has been chosen by Leslie.

I did this card whilst most of my crafting supplies were still packed away and am really happy with the way it turned out!

The stamps were a freebie with a craft magazine last year - an assortment of Autumn stamps, trees, acorns etc. I really liked the small scattered leaf stamp and there were also a couple of really small ones which although fiddly did the job.
After stamping the leaves at the bottom, I used a wet brush and smudged the ink a little.
Am hoping that I have projected an image of an Autumn woodland floor!

We have a great guest designer this month and the rest of the team have made some beautiful cards to share with you all - hope you can find some time to watercolour something with those lovely colours that Autumn brings and pop it in the gallery over at CAS Mix Up!

CAS Christmas - July

 Even though at the moment my life outside the craft room can be only described as 'madly chaotic' - (nothing sinister - more of that will be shared in due course!) - I yesterday found time to continue with my quest to participate in every month's challenge at CAS Christmas.

The challenge this month is 'Poinsettia'.

The die was a present from a friend and it is such a pretty one.

Cut the petals twice then watercoloured one green and one red then layered them - VERY fiddly to do but was happy with the result!.

I fiddled and faffed about for ages in deciding on a background and then just did a little watercolouring with no rhyme or reason!

It didn't look too bad and I added a little bit of stamping with a small berry stamp from an old Choc Baroque set to give it some interest.
The 'Joy' sentiment is from SU.

Sharing over at
Shopping Our Stash - Christmas in July
Dragonfly Dreams - Christmas in July
Addicted 2 CAS - Christmas

Thank you for looking and for leaving any comments, I really appreciate it. x

Sunny Dreams

Still not a lot of crafty stuff going on here and I apologise for my sporadic visits to you all. 

The yellow Brusho was out on the desk at the time of this make so splatted a little of that in a couple of places first.

Different grungy stamps used for the background, all stamped in Fossilized Amber. (I love this colour as it always makes me think of sunshine)

The flower head is from Altenew and I paired it with the stem and leaves from another stamp then watercoloured.
The bee was stamped twice, once on the card and once on another scrap, fussy cut the wings and glittered them a little.

Finished by stamping the word 'Dream' and a couple of my fave 'splatters' and thanks to Hermine for the inspiration whilst my mojo is AWOL!

Sharing over at
Crafters Cafe - Insects
Mix It Up - A/Goes + stamping
Daring Cardmakers - Into the Garden

CAS Mix Up June Mid Month Reminder

I chose the word prompt of  'FLIGHT' for my host month at CAS Mix Up  and we're half way through so there's still time to add your make into the gallery!
(It's my birthday today too so it would be a lovely pressie if you fill our gallery with gorgeousness!

Followers of my blog will have seen this sentiment before because I love it!

I black heat embossed the feathers and the emerging birds first.

Smooshed Twisted Citron and Salty Ocean Oxides onto a piece of acetate and then simply pressed the acetate sheet down onto the card where I wanted it.

I like being able to see where I am putting the colours - if I do random smooshing direct to my card when I turn it over it's normally a muddy mess!

Sentiment also black heat embossed.

Please pop in on the rest of my lovely teamies!

Have a lovely day - I am planning on eating cake - lots of it!🍰🍰🎂

March CAS MIX Up Mid Month Reminder

Our gallery at CAS Mix Up has some lovely entries this month and of course we're celebrating our 5th Birthday so some lovely prizes up for grabs -  there is still time for you to enter or even have another go!

Bonnie chose 'Print Making from Die Cuts' for her Watercolour month - this technique gives pretty artsy backgrounds and if you're like me with no painting skills is perfect!

This flower die has not seen a lot of use and to be honest I don't know why cos it's really quite pretty!
I used hammered textured cardstock for the base card as it is almost the same colour as the watercolour card used for the print impression. (It's amazing how many different shades of white there are isn't it?!)

The sentiment was stamped using Memento Danube Blue ink which was a near perfect match for my flowers.

I added a few little drops of Liquid Pearls in the centre of the main flower.
Our guest designer Ros has come up with another card to inspire you too, so pop over to the challenge blog and check out all the DT's cards.
Hope you will come and join our Birthday celebration! x

No line

Some time back I bought an ink pad designed for 'no line watercolouring' from a company called Ink On 3.   I had several attempts with it and quite frankly was not impressed with the results - I just put the pad away in a drawer and forgot about it.
I found the pad again when looking for something else and having become a tiny bit more confident with my watercolouring (still learning and lots of practice re shading etc needed) - I decided to have another go.

The stamp is called 'Sketchy Flower' from Honey Doo.
My watercolour card is not white which is quite irritating - I have yet to find one that is both white and heavyweight without having to rob a bank.

It's been a little while since I have managed to join in at 'The Flower Challenge' but am linking up there for their 'Shades of Purple' challenge this month.
Am also linking to TIOT's 'Say It With Flowers' challenge.

I'd be interested to hear anyone else's thoughts on the ink - and the best way to get good results.

Overall I feel this isn't too bad, although am still not sure about the ink - maybe Antique Linen DI probably works just as well?

Thanks for visiting today. x

CAS Mix Up March Challenge and a Birthday!

 Our challenge this month at CAS Mix Up has been set by Bonnie and as this month is a Watercolour month, Bonnie has set us the theme of 'Print Making with Die Cuts'.

I had a bit of fun creating this card!
My little cone flower is one of my fave dies. It is an old one but think it is from Sizzix.

As I used watercolour card, I die cut it several times so that when it was glued together it was quite strong.

The hammered cardstock adds some texture and I simply stamped the sentiment with a pink ink.

This is an easy technique which gives some lovely artsy backgrounds and there is a video link over on the challenge blog if you've not had a go at this before.

CAS Mix Up is also celebrating a Birthday this month! We are 5!
Yes, FIVE! Where has the time gone?!

The Design Team have produced some beautiful cards to inspire you this month and I hope you will find time to join us and our lovely talented Guest Designer Ros and celebrate our Birthday - I really look forward to seeing your creations! x

A little paint

As ideas have deserted me I haven't done much over the last few days.
Our weather did nothing to inspire either - it went from a lovely Spring day to howling wind and horizontal rain!

With nothing else to do I just got out the watercolour paints. I find watercolouring is very therapeutic even though I am not an artist - I cannot draw at all and normally my watercolouring is confined to using with stamps.

This one was just a little freehand fiddling and to be honest it would never qualify as a work of art but I am content to have produced it.

(I have a recollection of seeing 4 large mirrored glass pictures depicting the seasons with the tree foliage done with blown glass when out at a restaurant with friends a long time ago, so maybe that is what prompted this)

It's been a really really tough week personally 😩 (as no doubt it has been for others) - so am trying to keep wearing the big girl's pants 👖 and crossing my fingers that the end of the storm is not too far away and the golden sky 🌈 will appear.

Sharing this simple make over at AAA Cards.

(Note to Blog Buddy Ros - I will never match your drawing skills! x)

Dogs and Cats

I am continuing with my promise to myself to try and take part in the Christmas Challenge at Mix Up's sister blog CAS Christmas.

 The challenge this month is 'Dogs and/or Cats'. 
I don't have many domestic animal themed stamps - but one of my friends was having a little clear out and a set of Penny Black 'Holly Jolly Critter' stamps came my way.

I stamped and watercoloured the little doggy then masked him before inking up and lightly spritzing an Inkylicious 'Twiggy Tree'.

I added a heat embossed gold star to the top and watercoloured the sky, adding some shading beneath the tree and the doggy.
A little spattering with a white Posca pen and a bit of glitter on the fur of the hat and job done.

Another card for the stash!

I know several people who have already had their first dose of vaccine which is great news.
Current calculations put mine due April with the second dose July.
Seems  little way off yet but you know now I am looking back it seems the last year has flown! (Despite being stuck at home for almost all of it!) 

I hope you are all staying warm and safe and thanks for looking today. x
Also linking to
ABC Christmas - D for Diamond (Glitter)
Fezziwigs - Glitter/Red/Gold

Got to be China!

Cold and snowy here still, perfect for staying warm indoors and playing with paper and ink!

My Mum would never drink tea out of anything other than a china cup and saucer - once I left behind the station canteens where there were big thick (invariably cracked) mugs (talking about drinking vessels not my fellow officers...😄), I of course adopted another of Mum's traits and demanded china for my cups of tea.
(She WAS right - it does taste better!)

So this stamp reminded me very much of my lovely Mum - it was always time for tea!

The stamp is from Crafty Individuals (CI 547 - Time for Tea).
Stamped then onto watercolour card and spent a lovely time painting. (Finding watercolouring very restful and an escape from the world around us at the moment.)

I ink blended the background using Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar and Twisted Citron and although it doesn't show up very well in the photo, did some second generation stamping with a script stamp and a small trio of teacups which were free in a mag some time ago.
The sign is from the same free set.

I've yet to decide if I am going to add a sentiment but have left space at the bottom just in case!
Have some more images stamped so am planning on spending my weekend colouring in the warm craftie space.
Thanks for looking today - stay safe and warm wherever you are in the world. x

Blazing Sun

No blazing sun here - wet, windy and not very nice at all!

I have had this stamp set for a long time. It was one of those that I was desperate to have and one of those that once I got it didn't do a lot with it!
I have made this - (Thank you Pinterest and Virginia Lu.)

A mix of watercolours for the big sun and then my Arteza pens applied direct to the stamps for the branches and blossom

(I love cherry blossom - it just reminds me that spring is beautiful!)
I agonized over the bird - (ridiculous I know!) Blue? Pink? In the end opted for the same colours as the sun.

Some liberal spattering of the pink as I wanted to try and achieve the sight of the blossom being blown everywhere in a breeze... not sure I succeeded!

Apologies for the awful pic - the light here is dreadful - a real grey winter's day!
Linking up at
613 Avenue Create - A/Goes
Gem of a Challenge - A/Goes
ABMTTC - A/Goes

It's a little perplexing  how different areas are at different points in administering the vaccine for this dreadful virus.
Whilst by current calculations I am not expecting my first one until May/June I know of several people in different parts of the country who are over 80 and have received their first dose, 3 others who have in fact received BOTH - yet M-I-L who is classed as 'extremely vulnerable' and has been shielding since last March has not even received her letter telling her to make her appointment! Crazy.

Thanks for calling in - Stay Safe. x

2021 and CAS Mix Up is back!

So we say goodbye to what has been such a difficult year for so many people and let's hope that 2021 brings us better times. I am blessed and thankful to have had support and friendship from so many fellow crafters and my crafting has been my 'escape' from the mad mad world outside.
CAS Mix Up is back after our little December break, Joanna has stepped down (miss you Jo) but we welcome two new members to our team - Leslie and Coni!

Our first challenge has been set by Hilary -  and she has chosen the theme of 'Splatters'.
I am a Splatterer!
Without doubt it's one of  my favourite things on CAS cards as it gives a bit more interest yet still retains the uncluttered un-embellished space.

When I read the challenge theme I knew right away what I wanted to do.

I have had these red rubber stamps for such a long time and they hardly ever get used.
This was a reasonably quick card to do - made slower for me because I have got so used to clear stamps and MISTI positioning that working with red rubber ones now presents a bit of a challenge!

To comply with the Mixed Media element of the challenge my elements are Heat Embossing, Stamping and Watercolouring.

I did a light grey watercolour 'grounding' of the ink pots to try to achieve a bit of depth. 

The large ink splat is from Visible Image and I used a Black Posca pen tapping it with a cocktail stick for my other spatters, masking off the top part of the card in order to keep the white space clear.

Hope you will kick off your year by joining us this month - our very talented Guest Designer  Elaine (Craft-E-Place) and the rest of the DT have made some great cards!

Thanks for stopping by. x