Try It On Tuesday being 'Bossy'!

This challenge at TRY IT ON TUESDAY calls for you to 'BOSS IT'!
Embossing of any type on your project please and if you pop over to the blog you will see what the rest of the team have 'bossed' this time!

Do you like doing 'man' cards?
I don't and thankfully I don't have many to do but there is a couple I need so this has gone in the 'man' drawer.

This card is both dry and heat embossing.

I took a piece of heavyweight grey 300gsm cardstock, then embossed it with the (very old) circles embossing folder.
I wasn't sure how this technique would turn out on lighter weight card so played safe!

I then sponged odd bits randomly with Versamark and began to heat emboss.

Just repeated each time I wanted a colour change.

Used Copper, Silver, Gold and Verdigris powders - altho the Verdigris isn't showing very well on the photo but trust me it IS there!

Once all done I swiped over the top again with a Stazon black ink pad.

Tried a couple of different colours for the sentiment but the silver looked the best.
This faux metal technique is one that I enjoy doing even if it does take a little time I think the results are worth it!

Hope you can join us and thanks for looking today. x

Flaming Sky

 My friends other half runs a Hot Air Balloon company and in one of our previous houses we were surrounded by fields - it was perfectly normal for him to be flying over the field next door very low - and on two occasions landing in it! Cue one very irritated farmer!
(Have just read that back and it sounds like we move every five minutes - the house I am talking about we were in for almost 30 years!)

I  bought this Card-io set called 'Up Up and Away' last year and this was the first time of inking so I am hopping over to NBUS before this months challenge closes.

I saw something similar to this some time back on Pinterest and with a birthday looming for my friends hubby it was the perfect opportunity to use the set.

I wanted a sunset sky but think I might have overdone it cos it actually looks like the forest below is on fire..............🙈🔥🔥

Regulars to my blog will know how much I like ink blending!
Used Crackling Campfire (how apt!), Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door and Black Soot for my background.

The trees are one of my most used stamp sets - they're from Inkylicious and I love them.

Simply stamped in black Versafine Clair in the foreground and then used Versafine Crimson Red for my second and third generation stamping.
Am sharing over at
MMM- Create your own Background
Dragonfly Dreams - Happy Birthday
Mix It Up - Make your own background
SOS - Colour me Beautiful

Damn Men!

This fortnight's challenge at Try It On Tuesday is MAKE IT MASCULINE.

Man cards...I struggle so much with them! I try to come up with something different and original but in the end always revert back to the easy option - which is usually something rusty looking in the shape of cogs or clocks!

So here is the inevitable 'cog card for a damn man'!

Some time back I was gifted by a fellow blogger a couple of pieces of Tim Holtz shimmer card which is specifically for use with alcohol inks. This was the first piece I used and I must confess the shimmer is fantastic (which is probably why the pic is so bad!)

Once I'd covered the shimmer card with alco ink I took a cog stencil and inked over it to give a bit of depth to the background.

I used gilding wax to colour the die cut cogs.
Hope you can find time to make a man themed project this time round - and if you're seeking inspiration the rest of the DT and our Guest Designer have some for you over on the challenge blog!
Thanks for looking. x

Reminder post - Try It On Tuesday - Use a Stencil

Mid way through our USE A STENCIL challenge at Try It On Tuesday.

Having made a card using my circles/bubbles die the waste was lying on the desk so I used it to make this!

Blending Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon and Peacock Feathers over the waste and overlapping to make sure it filled the entire side of the card.

Added a white heat embossed sentiment on a scrap of black card and a couple of teeny sequins.

Was really quick to do and is now in the 'man' stash box! (yes even with the sequins on it!)

Just a week left for you to come and join our challenge - hope to see you there! x

It's a man thing!

 Hands up those who like making 'man' cards........ mmmmmm thought so - not many of you is there?!  And I am with you keeping my hands firmly by my side - but - whilst you're in the mood (and trust me I wasn't to begin with), you have to go with the flow so here it is

I cut a piece of heavy cardstock to the exact size of the Tim Holtz 'Alterations' embossing folder.

I inked it up with Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage, Antique Linen and Rusty Hinge randomly to start then spritzed with water before running through the Big Shot.
Left it to dry out a bit.

Rubbed over the top of the impression lightly with Vintage Photo and Brushed Corduroy, being careful (for once!) not to press down too hard as I only wanted the clock faces highlighted!

Chopped the panel into 3 pieces, matted on gold mirri card and mounted onto dark brown cardstock.
A gold heat embossed sentiment to finish and one man card done!

Sharing over at
TIOT - Man in your Life
Let's Squash It - Make it Manly
Alphabet - E for Emboss
Crafty Friends - Men
CYHTP - A/Goes

We have had a sunny weekend here but it has been very windy - good for drying the washing but not so much for the hair!
Hope the sun has shined where you are and thank you for looking! x

Update!

 Hello blogland!
So here's a quick update - now settling in nicely in our new home.🏡 It took such a long time but now that is all behind us and we can start enjoying. 💕😊
My craft room is just about done and I am looking forward to finding Mr Mojo (deffo still in a cardboard packing box📦 somewhere) and being able to get back to making.
BUT........ we will not have any broadband connection for another 3 weeks AT LEAST!😡 To say we were disappointed with the timescale is an understatement, particularly when we booked it in December - but the date they gave us in February they had to cancel because of staffing issues and the next available one is 15th March.... so let's hope no more cancellations on that front - not least because I am having to use my mobile phone data and loading pics uses up lots!

All that said just to show that I have not deserted blogland I have a share and promise once the broadband connection is sorted I shall spend days visiting everybody!!

Black card base and an old embossing folder and then rubbed a Versamark ink pad across it. Sprinkled off the edge of a spoon embossing powders in copper, silver and platinum. Finished with a little gilding wax to create the faux metal look.

Quite happy with the way this turned out and made for no other reason other than I unpacked the stuff!

I have a post already scheduled for 1st March and then I shall be back very soon after - broadband connection permitting - and once it is I will have a little giveaway for my loyal blogging buddies to show how much I appreciate those who have stuck by me for such a long time.
I hope you are all safe and well and send everyone hugs! x
PS - I notice that many of my followers pics have disappeared - is this normal? Did I miss something? Or has everyone left me????!!!

Mid Month at CAS Mix Up

Our 'STENCIL MONOPRINT' challenge is halfway through at CAS Mix Up. My first make at the start of the month is here
It's hard to believe that we are in the middle of November! We all have a little break over December so this is my last CAS Mix Up post of the year - we are back on 1st January with a brand new challenge for a new year (and hopefully a new house for me!)

So I have done 2 cards in anticipation of our little holiday during December - bit of a long post!

The first one is another masculine card using an Art Deco style stencil from Funky Fossil.
The print was done using Chipped Sapphire and Blueprint Sketch inks.

I matted the panel onto dark blue card and the sentiment was stamped in Versafine Midnight ink

The second card has lots of white but has a couple of layers so although not absolutely strictly CAS it does show how much I like messing about monoprinting stencils!

Again my stencil is from Funky Fossil and it gets a lot of use at this time of year - I really like the modern look of the trees.

I used Bundled Sage and Mowed Lawn to pull my print and then die cut the trees.

Added another die cut piece of a snowy hill with trees and an embossed snowy sky.

Lots of gorgeous makes from the DT over at the challenge blog, hope you will have a go at this technique if you've not already done so - it's another way of stretching your stash and the results can be fab!

CAS Mix Up November Challenge

 This month's challenge at CAS Mix Up has been set by Loll.
It's time to use a stencil and the challenge is 'STENCIL MONOPRINT'. This is one of my fave ways to make a background using a stencil although I confess I am still struggling as no house move date has been fixed yet so concentrating and creativity are a little thin on the ground!
I opted for a masculine card as I never have a lot spare in my stash -

The waves stencil is from Funky Fossil and I used Salty Ocean, Mermaid Lagoon and a little bit of Cracked Pistachio ink to make my monoprint.
The circular frame is supposed to look a little like a porthole!

My little boat being tossed about by the waves was stamped direct onto the background, stamped again and fussy cut then paper pieced after colouring.

I lightly inked through the stencil as normal to give the background of the card a bit of interest and added a couple of birds and a sentiment.

There's some amazing examples of this easy technique over on the challenge blog done by the DT and our guest designer Steph.

There's also links there to tutorials and I hope you will give it a go and join us in the gallery!

There's very little movement on the house front, we are in the hands of others further down the chain and can only hope they don't drag things out unnecessarily.
Thanks for sticking with me and visiting - will stop by you all as soon as I can. x

That Boat again!

Another card using 'Of The Sea' from Crafty Individuals- (CI-559). This actually was the first of many makes with what has become a 'much loved' stamp!

I teamed it this time with a stamp called 'Fishermans Wharf' from Crafty Endeavours which although purchased last year is Never Before Used!

Stamped the boat first, then masked it off before stamping the Wharf in the background.

I had to extend the Wharf stamp to make it fit the 6 x 6 base but was pleased that it looked OK  despite it obviously not being intended for 'repeat stamping'!

I watercoloured the boat and the base of the card with Distress Inks.

Applied a little bit of Speckled Egg ink blending to the sky and used one of my fave 'Sea' themed quote stamps. 

The idea to leave the buildings uncoloured was inspired by Julie

Am trying not to consecutively post what I have made with this boat  as you will all get sick of it! But - without doubt has been one of my better impulse buys!
 
Thanks for dropping in, I appreciate it. xx

Guitar Hero

I have really enjoyed playing with some of my new purchases over the last couple of weeks - despite the occasional 'Mojo-Less Moments', I have simply carried on regardless with no exact plan in mind and seen what has turned out.

I bought this Guitar Hero stamp set and co-ordinating Rock Star stencil from Funky Fossil and have made 4 cards with them up to now so have swelled the man stash a bit.

My background was made from Squeezed Lemonade, Peacock Feathers, Dusty Concord and Seedless Preserve inks.
Then I just messed about with some stamps and stencils!

The grungy harlequin stamp simply clear embossed added a little texture and I remembered I had bought this 'Equalizer' stamp from Uniko which I thought would be perfect.

The two guitars from the set were stamped onto cream pearlised card, clear embossed and fussy cut.

It was a little enjoyable change for me to abandon the CAS 'clean white space' and revert back to inkiness too.

It's been really cold the last few days, some snow flurries too  and as it's been icy underfoot I've been reluctant to venture out - inhaling fresh air on the doorstep whilst waiting for ink to dry is all I have done!
Stay warm and safe and thanks for looking! x

November Twofer

 This month's challenge at Twofer is 'Stars'. Last challenge of the year too!
I made a Christmas card and a Birthday card using the same Star die and some odd bits of glitter card.

The background for the Christmas card was done using Chipped Sapphire and Stormy Sky DI with a little dab of Squeezed Lemonade round the 'moon' for the sky and Shaded Lilac for the 'snow'.
Liberal amounts of white Posca pen spattering too!
I used a silver pen to 'hang' the stars from the die cut branch. I treated myself to this sentiment last week and it seemed just right!

The Birthday card is a tried and tested 'man' card!
Have done a few of these in different colours.
After stamping few grungy elements in grey, I added a couple of ink blots using a Midnight Blue ink.
The dark coloured stars were also cut out of the same dark blue card as the matted layer.
The sentiment I think was a freebie some time ago.

These two cards were also a way of using up the odd bits of glitter card that I always seem to be left with at this time of year.

Thanks to Darnell (Dolly 😘) for all her hard work this year with this challenge - and thanks too to the DT for their inspiration -  enjoy your month off! x

Linking my Christmas card over at
CHNC - A/Goes (Glitter)
Inkspirational - Frame It
and a quick visit to Pixies Playground 'cos my glittery bits were all leftovers!

Isla

This week has flown and tomorrow will be time for my launch card for the new challenge at CAS Mix Up - but a quick share from me today.

I simply HAD to have this stencil from Sweet Poppy - we have lots of Highland cattle in the fields around us and quite simply I think they're cute- (particularly when they're babies!)
So 'Isla the Highland Cow' found her way into my shopping basket and I have made about 6 cards so far including a couple of Christmas cards after being inspired by blogging buddy Linda.

All of them quick one layer makes and great for just swelling the stash for those hard to do 'man' cards.
I have used different sentiments on the birthday cards like 'Did Someone Say Cake?' and 'You are as perfect as me'!

I bought some cheapie make up blending brushes from Amazon and they work a treat for ink blending - I am quite impressed considering how much they were! They give great coverage.
For 'Isla' cards I used shades of Distress Inks in Tea Dye, Vintage Photo and Old Paper.

Thanks for looking today - hope you will come back soon! x 

Sharing Isla over at -

AAA Birthday - Critters/Animals
AAA Card - One layer
Creative Craft Cottage - Add an Animal

Stamping Sensations August Challenge

The dreaded 'MAN' cards are the challenge we have set for you this month at Stamping Sensations!
The challenge title is 'Make It Masculine' - so now is the time to make those cards so many of us find difficult and to swell your stash so you always have one on hand.

This heron stamp I have owned for a long time and it has never seen ink... (hangs head in shame), but I thought it would be a good image to use for a male themed card.

I also adore this sentiment- it is just perfect for someone who is very special to you don't you think?

I had fun getting inky  and was quite pleased with the background although maybe the reflected sun could have been a bit more precise but overall am happy with how it turned out.

The bamboo stamp is another old one (from when I was going through my 'Everything Asian' period.... - go on, I know we all did it)


I made my own mountain mask for this one too!

Please read our rules before you link up - we are a STAMPING challenge so stamping must be the focal point of your creation!  We have a brilliant prize this month too - pop over to the blog, check it out and make something masculine!

Look Up!

The temperature change in 24 hours here has been ridiculous!!
Sat outside on Saturday - very warm and sunny. Sat inside on Sunday - in a jumper and socks! (had other clothes on too........😄😄 )
Still cool today but not raining thankfully so we managed a walk round the nearby Nature Reserve this morning.
I have a card for this month's CAS Watercolour challenge which is 'Night Sky'.

I quite enjoy trying my hand making these backgrounds and usually manage OK blending Distress Inks but I tried this time just using my watercolours.
Note to Self - NEED MORE PRACTICE!

Overall my watercolour piece didn't turn out too bad and I managed to make 2 reasonably passable cards with it.

I love these little 'SuperHero Pugs' from Clearly Besotted and I thought he would look good against the galaxy sky.
Stamped, embossed and watercoloured before he was ready to sit patiently waiting to fly off somewhere to Save the World!

Thanks for looking today - stay safe, be kind and happy crafting. xx

Also sharing at -
HLS Watercolour - A/Goes + Embossing
Daring Cardmakers - Inky Background

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

Red and Black

A lovely week away with our friends topped off with winning the Bowls England tournament - so now we have a hat trick of 3 wins in this event in four years - we're really pleased!
Only downside was a very tiring 6 hour drive home so as usual it will take me a couple of days to get over it - decided to spend my relax time doing a few cards for some upcoming challenges.

CAS Watercolour's challenge this month is 'Red and Black'. These colours always shout 'Oriental' to me so my card was obviously inspired by that.

I dragged a brush with some watered down black paint and made a few background mountains, adding a little pale red highlights.

I used an old stamp which is a little bigger than the impression here - the balance would have been all wrong as it was too big  for the background - so masked off the bottom first and then stamped in Versamark Black.

I used a coin and carefully drew a circle, which I then watercoloured avoiding the spire as much as I could!

Some more watered down black paint and a very old Chinese letters stamp (no idea what it means or even if it means anything at all!) before framing and matting onto the base card.

Quite pleased with how it turned out as I am still not confident with watercolours and although there's not !

Also sharing over at Pearly Sparkles where the challenge is to 'Use Some Red'. 
Thanks for looking - hope all is well in your part of blogland. 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

CAS Stencil Mid Month Reminder

Half way time at the challenge at CAS Stencil and the theme this month has been chosen by the lovely Nancy who's set us  the task of  'Use A New Stencil'

I bought this stencil last year and it's never been out of the packet -😏 in fact there's a few in there that have never been exposed to daylight so I have promised myself that I will systematically start to use them!

This stamp was a mag freebie - again from last year- (or was it the year before??)
Another item in this craftie space that is still in its cellophane and hasn't been manhandled by me.
I think the expression on the gull is priceless! He looks quite stern and fed up sat on his wooden posts.

Stamped, watercoloured and fussy cut before tucking him behind the framed wave stencil. 

I thought this was another suitable 'man' card  - which I desperately need in my stash

There's bags of wonderful inspiration over on the CAS Stencil blog and I know my teamies would really appreciate a visit and a comment if you have time.
Hope too that you will make something with a stencil and show your creation in our gallery - because

 

ITS OUR FIRST BIRTHDAY!! 

So we're celebrating and have a prize on offer this month!

What you waiting for?????

Inks and Powder

Blue skies and sunshine (but cold) here today after all the rain yesterday - mad when you think just across the Pennines 40 minutes drive away they once again are experiencing floods. Although one of the downsides of living so high up on the top of a moor means you experience high winds 💨and snow ⛄ the upside is at least you don't get flooded out💧⛆🌊!

Because the weather was so bad yesterday I spent a very nice cosy time in the craft space doing what I do best - making messy!

I have never tried hot glue embossing but continuing with my decision to try out new techniques and re visit old ones and after seeing a similar card to this on Pinterest the small piece of metal left on the desk from my card here seemed to say 'Use Me'! - So I did!

I ran the metal through an embossing folder and then dropped some Alco Inks on it and simply let them run.

Out with the glue gun! Confess don't use the glue gun a lot (cos I am VERY messy), but am really pleased that I only managed to get the glue where I wanted it and not all over everywhere else!
A few blobs, then gently heated again to make warm, added some gold embossing powder and heated again.
Once finished I matted it onto an off cut of gold card before putting on the card base and stamping the sentiment.
Another 'man' card I think?

Liked doing this technique so the glue gun is still out........😏😏