A Return

 It's been a little while since I took hold of a canvas but having a recent tidy (for 'tidy' insert - 'open boxes to see what's in them') I found some 6 x 4 canvas boards long forgotten!
In the box with the canvas was all kinds of stash saved for mixed media including a massive bag of shells which were collected over several years each time I had a trip out anywhere beachy!

I painted the canvas first with Gesso then mixed some Mermaid Lagoon ink with texture paste and covered the whole board.

When dry, I randomly sponged over it with Salty Ocean and a little bit of Chipped Sapphire.

I wanted to create something that looked like a wave of white foam and this proved quite a challenge!

After trying out different things on a piece of scrap, I remembered I had a Funky Fossil stencil of a surfer riding a wave - the wave bit was just what I needed so back to the texture paste, this time with white acrylic paint and lots of masking so the surfer didn't appear!

Arranged a couple of shells so they looked like they were being tossed in the waves (I hope) and fixed some hessian, pearl beads, more shells to the bottom.

Popped on a few blue Dew Drops to imitate water droplets and found two tiny metal fish (from I know what where) in my stash.

The sentiment is one of my all time favourites stamped on vellum with Memento Danube Blue and heat embossed.

Quite pleased with the way it turned out in the end, and it reminded me how much I enjoyed the odd venture into mixed media - am sharing this over at As You Like It where the option is Fussy or Clean and something which gives you an inner glow of pride - well I am proud of this fussy make as it's been so long before I did anything like it!

Have promised myself I'll use up the other canvas very soon and thanks for looking today - hope all is well in your part of blogland! x
Also sharing over at -
We Love 2 Create - Anything Mixed Media
Creative Artiste - Anything Mixed Media
Stencil Fun - Using my Funky Fossil Surfer stencil
Darnell's I.D.E.A.S - week 4 - the letter 'A' - Anything Goes

Traditional Christmas at TIOT

 Here we are at the end of November and time for another challenge at Try It On Tuesday.
Our theme this time is 'Traditional Christmas' and there is nothing more traditional for me than a Christmas Tree!

This is a little different for me.
I have been wanting to try something like this for a while and having been gifted a HUGE (and I mean huge - like 3 storage boxes worth!! 😵😵) amount of costume jewellery from my Mum in Law during one of her 'clear outs' with the words 'Take to the Charity Shop or do whatever you want with it', I did precisely that - what I wanted with it!

I have made four of these 'Christmas Tree shapes' using some of the jewellery - all different and there's enough left for at least 3 more!

The rectangular ones measure 9" x 7" in their shadow box frame and a square one which is 8". I'll share this in another post as it is a little different.
I have a small table at a local Christmas Market next week so I shall take a couple of these with me.

I wanted velvet for the background but decided it was simply too expensive - (how I wish we'd have kept all the material during a previous M-I-L clear out!) so opted for felt as an alternative.

I spent ages arranging bits of jewellery to make the shapes! A variety of gold, pearl and sparkly diamante brooches, earrings, and pieces from a pendant all framed with a yellow metal chain made this piece.

Am sorry the pic isn't brilliant - the camera doesn't like all the bling!

I was thinking though when I was making it that these would make lovely memory keepsakes - I have a few pieces of my Mum's in my own jewellery box so I may make one for me to keep.

Hope you can find some time to link up a make this challenge and please have a look at what the teamies have come up with - we all love visitors! 

Sharing over at -
CFTH - A/Goes
Use Your Stuff - Shine Bright
Peace on Earth - A/Xmas
Holly and Ivy - A/Xmas

CAS Mix Up October Challenge

Bonnie has set this months challenge at CAS Mix Up.
It is mixed media time this month and she chose the theme of BOTANICAL PRINTS.
I had only ever tried this once before and my results weren't brilliant so was a little apprehensive, but I watched some more tutorials and took the plunge!

I was quite pleased with how my attempts turned out - done using leaves from a rose bush.
I wanted to try a different colour than the usual Autumn shades so turned to one of my fave colours - Grape Jelly.

As my Big Shot is still packed away, I just inked the leaves and popped them alongside each other, took another piece of card and just pressed down.
Held my breath when I lifted off the card and leaves but was amazed to find that the impressions were really not bad at all!

Linen textured card, die cut frame, a little bit of ink dusting, some watercolour shading and job done.

The Design Team have some simply beautiful makes using different methods of getting these prints, please pay them a visit and we have  Guest Designer Izzy (Izzy Scrap), who has also made a stunning contribution to our challenge this month!

So put your coat on, go outside, grab some leaves and come and join us!

Dragonflies

(Picture heavy post!)
The Twofer challenge always makes me think and this month I had to think more than usual!

It's taken me a long time to  make a decision and to come up with something - which is madness when you consider the prompt was 'YOUR CHOICE'!

Eventually I came up with these -
I've had this Stampendous stamp for ever! Forget the last time I used it so made up for lost time and used it twice.

I stamped and clear embossed then added some Brushos. I am still not very good with Brushos and this panel was my third attempt.

A little grungy overstamping with a hexagon stamp and an arrow stamp. Liked the hexagon, didn't like the arrow so overstamped it with the 'Make Art' which fortunately for me looked OK!


My second card involved more embossing!

Gold embossed the dragonfly

then fussy cut, getting rid of the flourish and the vines. I painted the wings with several Mica Powders so they have a little shimmer.

The background is an old stencil from Imagination Crafts - I used Tea Dye for the Bullrush tops and Twisted Citron for the leaves.

I lightly inked some Speckled Egg DI for the sky and stamped the sentiment in the Tea Dye ink.

Am going to share the second card at
MTTC- Stencil It
Stamplorations Stencil Challenge - A/Goes

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for looking today and thank you for any comments you leave.

I really appreciate you taking the time. x

Just Beachy!

This is another one of those cards that didn't really end up like I thought it would!
Looking back I had no idea how it would turn out as I simply wanted to try out the Ghosting technique again. 

I have lots of odd pieces of watercolour card perfect for practicing with (Playground for me!) so made a couple of backgrounds using different colours - mostly blue and greens with varying degrees of success and this one which was done in shades of orange DI's, lifting the colour by spraying with water, leaving for a few seconds and lifting the stencil off.

The stencil is by That's Crafty.

I stamped and embossed the shell and the sentiment in gold and cut the frames and sentiment frame from the left over base card - there was no waste left from this particular piece of card!

The shells were collected from a trip last year and the seed beads were from my stash.

I am not sure if this is CAS enough for the CAS Stencil challenge but am linking anyway!

Also linking at the Mixed Media Must Use a Stencil challenge at Stamplorations

A2S+M - Holiday (and right now I can't wait to get on a beach somewhere!)

The Card Concept also have a lovely Inspiration Pic and I chose the shells and the overall beachy theme to inspire this make.

My kitchen floor has finally been laid today - the whole project has taken 7 weeks - there is just the skirting boards to be fixed now so my house is almost back to normal!

Thanks for visiting today - have a great day whatever you are doing! x
 

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

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

Happy Day!

This is a re-vamp of a project completed a few years ago. The canvas has been on the wall in the craftie space both here and in the previous house and it had faded with the sun so it now has had a face lift. Sharing with you as yesterday was for me a 'Happy Day'!! (more at the end of the post...)

The canvas measures 12" x 10".

I used acrylic paints for the background and made (what I hope look like) fluffy white clouds across the blue sky with modelling paste.
The flowers in the bottom left and the butterflies are cut from paper napkins, and gesso'ed into place.
I  added a few sweeps of a paintbursh to make stems and dabbed a bit of pink onto the tops for flowers.

The bird and branch was cut from an old book.
The cherry blossom is an old stamp, flowers coloured with Distress Ink and the birdcage (also a stamp - image given to me by a friend) was painted then cut out, and I added a thin string of silver metal as the hanger.
My 'sunshine girl' was made from card with a bit of lace under her skirt.
The Happy Days stamp is done on a bit of tissue paper, stuck onto the canvas and a butterfly and a heavily embossed stamped dragonfly finished it all off.
Was a change from cards to re-do this canvas - had forgotten how much I enjoy the mess! 

So my 'Happy Day' -
yesterday I became the 2017 Bowls England President! Was a day with all kinds of emotions going on -sick with nerves before, pinched myself a few times afterwards as I kept seeing this gold chain round my neck, but overall a lovely day spent with a huge number of lovely people. Then last evening it was posh frock for the Presentation Dinner that when over officially marked the end of the previous President's year - and the start of mine!
Couple of pics to share for those of you who haven't seen them on Facebook -

- and yes that really is ME in the long dress! No photoshopping - just ME!
Have spent the last few weeks trying to lose weight from round my middle as over the last 2 years whilst Junior Vice President, then Senior Vice, I have visited many Clubs all round the British Isles - and was fed wonderful food at them all! So a bit of treadmill every day has been called for...
That's it - all my news for this week!
Am worn out today - think being up till 2am then the drive home this morning has seen me off completely!

Linking my canvas to the following Challenges -
Creative Artiste - A/thing Mixed Media
Frilly & Funkie - Out of the Cold
As You Like It - What do you make other than cards and why

Will catch up with you all this week - am having a quiet week at home! x  

A Change

A winter share from me today - this was a remake of one I made to give away last year. I gave it to a neighbour and another saw it and liked it- so this year I made one for her too!
Both are hanging proudly in their respective homes - unfortunately I took this pic before adding the little punched red birdie so you will just have to imagine that he is inside!

The birdhouse is made from MDF.
I used some Modelling Paste and acrylic paint on the roof  and round the entrance then gave it a liberal helping of glamour dust!
Does actually look a little like snow in real life.
The wooden background is from Stampin' Up inked in Versafine Smokey Grey.

Holly die rubbed over lightly with Mowed Lawn and red perfect pearls used for the berries.
Offcuts used for the roses and I edged these with some silver embossing powder and more glamour dust!
Finished with some white fibres just randomly glued. Neighbour loves it so I am happy.

 Hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas! Ours was very quiet - I spent yesterday in the craftie space playing with my new prized possession - a MISTI! (Now I know why I love my husband so much!)
Love it - made a set of notecards with a layering stamp set (- have been unable to line them all up properly before) which I will share later and am intending on spending another day just playing about with paper and stamps!

Challenges -
Love 2 Create - Anything Mixed Media
CWWC - Christmas
C&GI - Christmas
If you Gave a Crafter a Cookie - Pic Inspiration
Craft for the Craic - Anything but a Card
Holly Jolly - Anything but a card

Off to get inky - and likely leftover turkey and chips for tea too - yum!
Will stop by you all later - and thanks for taking time out this Christmas to visit! x 

I am missing days.....

Where has this week gone???? Can't believe it's so long since I last posted.

Unusually for me, I was asked to make a card similar to one made some time ago - normally I don't do two of anything but as I liked the stamp (!!) and because of the special circumstances I said 'yes'! It is for the same recipient and the last card (although kept tucked away in a drawer) is rather the worse for wear so this duplicate will be put into a box frame and hung on a wall as a piece of artwork.

I love this stamp! It reminds me so much of happy days spent collecting shells on the beach with my Mum. Hence the sentiment.
I coloured it with Distress Inks then stitched it onto a scallop frame.
The papers were just found in my paper collection download box and the colour reminded me of sand.

Added some striped ribbon and a Martha Stewart shell type border and a printed vintage style postcard before using some scrunched up fabric, a pearl buckle and a variety of seashells.
The little tags were found in a drawer and I put a tiny silver metal flip flop charm to finish.

Challenges -
Eclectic Ellapu - (Purple team) Favourite Holidays
Glitter n Sparkle - Summer Sunshine
Pile it on - By the water
Suzy Bees - A/Goes - Twist - On the Beach
Craft for the Craic - Summertime
Fussy and Fancy - Beach Fun
Crafty Catz - Summertime
Dragonfly Dreams - Midsummer delights

Have stamped up a few images today and have a free day tomorrow so am hoping to do something constructive craft wise!
Am away at the end of the week at the Junior Womens Internationals - hoping that the weather is a bit more beach like than it is now - cos it's pouring down!!!
Thanks for keeping with me whilst I am blogging so infrequently - I appreciate it very much.xx

Tussie

Tussie Mussie -  Definition - a cone shaped holder for a flower bouquet - or a cone shaped holder that you can fill with choccies or nice smelly bath bits and give to someone you like!
Well that's what I did anyway - (the choccies not the flowers and the other stuff.....)
I had made one of these a long time ago and  have been promising myself each year since that I would make another! 
NOTE TO SELF - these things are THE WORST  EVER to photograph!!


Used a sheet of dark blue and white pretty K and Co paper (very old - had eons) to make the actual cone - it has vintage roses printed on it and I loved it so much I wouldn't use it.. but all things have to be used up eventually...

So cone shape duly cut out, I lined the inside with some strong white card, then dragged out the lace and bits box.
The pale blue and cream lace was stitched to the top of the cone, along with a piece of dark cream heavy vintage lace.
I used 2 more bits of the same blue/cream lace and stitched it down the centre then assembled the cone.

The very slim 'tassels' were made simply by separating an oddment of a bit of silky twine stuff, a short length of which was found in the box and then tied round a teeny pearl string handle (which you can't see very well in the photo) and secured to the edge of the cream lace.
The gold and pearl embellishment from my stash was  threaded through a bit of pale blue ribbon and tied through the lace at the top and finally the scrap of organza rose trim glued in place.

All the lace and trim used where left over pieces - so am hoping this qualifies as 'snippets' and despite the grotty weather I am going into the Playground.

Challenges -
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes/Feminine
Eclectic Ellapu - Tussy Mussy
CFTH - Anything Goes
Robyn's Fetish - Anything But A Card
All Crafts - Anything But A Card
Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes
Enjoy the rest of your day whatever you're doing! x

Bird House

I had a mass clear out when we moved house last year - and amongst the things that went to the Charity Shop were lots of Christmas ornaments and decorations so I took the opportunity of the challenge to make something which I will hang on a wall somewhere!

I had a devil of a job taking a pic of this.

The birdie house is a wooden template - part of a set of 2. This was the smaller one and it measures  just over 5".
I used up odds and ends of paper scraps and rescued a torn die cut - so entering this into Pixies Playground too.

I painted the wooden base with a white gesso wash then used up an oddment of woodgrain paper (had to join it in the middle but simply ran down the join with a grey promarker to hide it) as the background.
Used modelling paste on the roof and in the hole in the centre, just slapped this on and once dry painted over it again with white acrylic paint and while the paint was still wet threw some glamour dust over it - instant bling!!

The snowflake die was the rescued piece - I had cut it from some thick sparkly paper when making this card here but it hadn't cut all the way through and I ripped it - but thankfully it was just the right size for this.

The holly die was a new buy. Once cut, embossed the berries with red and then ran over 'Mowed Lawn' DI.

The rolled roses were just done from oddments of paper and randomly embossed with silver and the white fibres were from my stash. I stamped a tiny sentiment and embossed in red.

And here is my little robin ready to be placed strategically (!!) when I decide where I'm going to hang his house! 

Challenges - 
Pixies Snippets Playground - week 149
Completely Christmas - Anything Goes /Twist add a robin
MAWTT - Winter is Coming
Fab n Funky - Christmas
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything but Square
CHNC - Anything Christmas Goes
The Crafting Cafe - Not a Card
  Thanks for looking in today Have a great day whatever you're doing. x