CAS Mix Up Mid Month Reminder

 Mid way through June and here's my reminder post for CAS Mix Up!

The challenge this time has been set by Loll and is a Stencil one using 'Gels and/or Pastes'. I really hope you can join us if you've not already done so and don't forget to make your entry CAS!

I used a colour combo that I've seen several times before and it just appealed to me! Rocket Red and Peacock Feathers are not colours I would normally put together but I think they work well!

I used gesso for my stencil and once the gesso had dried I re-applied the stencil and sponged over it. Did a couple of random watercolour splodges with the Peacock Feathers D.Ox.

The flower is by Visible Image, stamped, coloured and fussy cut. Was a bit fiddly but managed it!

We've some lovely cards in our gallery - hope you are there too!

Thanks for looking! x
PS - Thank you to everyone who sent me cards and messages today, I've had a lovely birthday!

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

CAS MIX UP JUNE CHALLENGE

 CAS Mix Up is back this month after our extended break. The challenge this time has been set by Loll and is a Stencil one using 'Gels and/or Pastes'. I really hope you can join us and don't forget to make your entry CAS!

I started by using a masked off square and lightly inked using Twisted Citron blending outwards, then took another stencil and lightly brushed shades of pink and green round the square.

My Cherry Blossom stencil is by Indigo Blu. I wanted a shiny effect for the blossom so used some heavy structure gel first which dries clear but leaves a raised impression.

Once dry I sponged (very carefully!) a deep pink over the flowers and a light brown for the branches.

Finished with a few Gold Pearl drops for the flower centres.

It has a wonderful shine in real life and although it doesn't show very well in the photo, the structure gel has given a good dimension.

The sentiment is from Stampin Up.

There are some gorgeous makes from my buddies on the DT over at the challenge blog and our guest designers Jules and Darnell. I am looking forward to seeing your creations in our gallery too!
Linking up at
A2S+M - Stencils
Thanks for looking today! x

Gilded

I haven't played with Gilding Flakes for a while - mainly because I am messy at the best of times and gilding flakes are really not something I should be allowed to get my hands on.😳

I did though manage not to have too much of the stuff floating about the place this time - a minor miracle!

I have used both of these stamps before (card is HERE) but thought I would try the flakes with the same stamps to see what it looked like.

The verdict is - not too bad at all considering I am a 'flaky' novice!

The bird house is a really old stamp from Chocolate Baroque formerly Elusive Images.

I decided at the time that adding more foliage was probably a step too far as no doubt I wouldn't have got it positioned right but on reflection maybe I should have been brave as the bird house does look a little lonely on just a gold line drawn thread.....

And typical me - the black card I used wasn't big enough for my normal size makes so the gold strip was added - which I think finishes it better - so happy necessity!
Am sharing over at
Use Your Stuff - Add Gold
TTPH - CAS
Retro Rubber - Anything Goes
Thanks for looking today - I appreciate you coming to my blog! x

Big!

 I recently acquired an Indigo Blu big butterfly stamp. Have actually used it - and more than once!

The Brushos were out on the desk top as I have used them for another project which will be shared in a couple of weeks time.
I stamped and heat embossed the butterfly before fussy cutting.

I thought that if I cut off the body (psycho tendencies 😈😈- LOL) on one side this meant that I could use the other side complete with body to make another card.....😊

Once the embossed wing was dry I looked for a suitable matching purple ink shade and simply stamped the whole butterfly onto the card base.
A few Brusho spatters and a die cut sentiment dipped in the wet brusho residue on the craft mat - it made for quite a quick card and one for my own stash box!

Work has continued here outside. We have extended the existing patio (those flags were HEAVY!) and rebuilt the dismantled raised bed in the shadiest part of the garden right outside the kitchen window- it's now filled with lush shade loving plants which cheer me up when I am washing up!

Still a bit to do planting up a new border and the all important water sculpture installation - which are jobs to be tackled over the next few weeks - dear husband is prone to reminding me that
'we're not as young as we used to be so everything takes a bit longer'! (Like I needed to hear that.......😒)
Sharing my bodyless butterfly at
TIOT - Butterfly
Dragonfly Dreams - Butterfly

Thanks for stopping by - hope all is well in your part of blogland! x

Wall

We've had some nice dry days recently so the work has continued in the garden and the craft desk has been sat at infrequently.

But I did do a couple of makes and tidying away the usual mess I make (yes I am keeping the new room tidy 😉), I thought I would use the Gesso again before it got consigned back to the cupboard after being inspired by Pinterest.

I have quite a lot of stencils - I have decided I have to start using them more - I buy them, look at them and then they just get filed away!

I have a couple of brick wall stencils but this one is a large one from Clarity.

I started by inking my background in shades of Antique Linen, Victorian Velvet and Seedless Preserve.

Once dry I simply randomly applied the gesso through the stencil.
A bit of random stamping along the bottom and one of my fave sentiments using Memento Sweet Plum
Job done!

Sharing over at TIOT whose challenge this time is Use a Stencil, and over at Colourful Options the challenge is Pretty in Pink.
Hope all is OK in your part of blogland and will get round to catching up with you all soon! x

Spray

We've had some lovely weather recently and it has given me a chance to start re-designing the new home's garden to make it our own so I have been absent from the craft desk for quite a while.

As my back is insisting I have a day off from digging (and it's a bit cloudy!) I have a share for you today.

I love the Delicate Florals set from Penny Black and teamed it here with some background stamping and stencilling.

I brushed the background first with DI's in shades of yellow, overstamped randomly with an old script stamp before sponging through the diamond stencil.

I used my Arteza waterbrush pens direct to the stamp then dragged out the colour with a wet brush after stamping.

Finished with a few tiny gold liquid pearl dots.

When I packed up to move I found the rounded corner punch (covered in cobwebs as it had fallen down the back of a cupboard!) so thought I would see if it still worked. I quite like the soft rounded edges so have put it where I can find it!
Sharing over at
Colourful Options - Yellow
Country View - Spring
HLS Watercolour - A/Goes

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

 

Flowers

 A quick share from me today -

we have had some nice days this last week and despite still coughing (Can't believe I have been left with this cough and waves of fatigue! Getting better but boy is it slow!) I have spent some time outdoors planning out the changes to our garden, so crafting has taken a back seat.

But I made this after being inspired by Pinterest - in fact I made two similar but will save the other one for a later share.

Just a simple 'fishnet' stamp partly inked and a few black splatters to start for the background then a die cut piece of foliage, a daisy and one of my fave dies, this big Chrysanth bloom.
All just smooshed through some ink on the craft mat.
That's it!

We are having 4 days away with some friends next week - they also have recently moved house so we all think we deserve a rest - although we are hoping to play in a bowls tournament - first time for nearly 3 years since I have played - and only hoping I can stand up long enough and not cough my head off!

Sharing over at TIOT who's challenge is Spring Colours.

Thanks for looking and I wish you all a Happy Easter. x

Is Spring here?

It has taken me a long time to shake off the virus despite having all my jabs - I know for many symptoms are mild but there are others like me who have been really poorly.
I have tested negative for the last 5 days but still have a cough which I am told may be with me for several weeks yet 😖. At least I am feeling a little more human!

Despite having this beautiful new craft room am finding it quite difficult to get back into creating - there are so many other things I want to be doing, not least my garden!

We had a couple of days of lovely weather and I thought Spring had arrived - then we suddenly had overnight frosts, very strong winds, rain and plummeting daytime temperatures.
It's really cold here at the mo and those few spring flowers which are out are probably regretting showing their faces.

This spring offering was simply made from left over bits of cardstock, using this lovely Alexander Renke Crocus die which has become one of my all time faves.

A quick and simple card that didn't tax me too much!

I have been AWOL from the Playground - keeping my germs to myself - but I am poking my nose through the gates with this make!
Thanks for stopping by - I hope all is well with you in your part of blogland. x

A Day Late

I am a day late posting the winners from my little give-away (see previous post) but sad to say having managed to stay safe for 2 years, done everything I should have done, it appears that a trip as a treat to a large garden centre and a sit for coffee and cake resulted in the damn virus deciding to settle on me.👹

I know for many people they say the symptoms are 'mild' - well if this is mild I am so thankful I didn't get severe!
Thank God for the vaccine is what I say. I have been incredibly unwell for the last 5 days and ventured out of my bed this morning for the first time.
I feel a little better, the throat is not so sore and the cough is not so hacking but the fatigue is immense and I am keeping fingers crossed that tomorrow I may improve a little more.👍

Anyway - enough of my tales of woe -

2 Winners 📣🎉🎈
Bundle 1 -5 piece Die set 'Village of Light', Snowflake Slimline Stencil and a circle die goes to Stamps and Paper

Bundle 2 - Memory Box Stamp Graceful Fern, Snowflake Slimline Stencil and a circle die is Mac Mable

ANNE and MAC please contact me via the e mail link by clicking on my profile in the sidebar with your addresses. 
Rest assured the gifts will be sanitised and not touched by me - dear husband will be postie! 

Thank you again to everyone who has stayed with me - blogland is so much quieter now than when I began way back in 2008 but all my blogging friends are to me just priceless.💕 x

Happy Dandy Dance! (And a surprise)

 Hang out the bunting (even though it will get wet cos we have a very very rainy day here) -

WE ARE CONNECTED! 😁😁

Hopefully now things here will get back to normal and I will be able to spend a little time at my craft desk, visiting blogland without worrying about silly mobile data charges.

I have a quick CAS card to share and further down the page is a little thank you from me to my lovely followers who have commented on my posts whilst I have been internet-less!

I had a little stampie-fest with one of Lavinia's Dandelion stamps.
I used Dew Drop inks in Grape Jelly, Pear Tart and Sea Breeze.
I had found some neglected coloured card whilst unpacking so used a small piece of the purple one to just give me a definitive edge.

I am experimenting all over the new house to find a spot that I am happy with to take my photos!

Right - now here's the aforementioned surprise -

As I am so very grateful to all those who have commented on my sporadic blog posts I have put together a couple of things to say thank you.

Bundle 1 is a 5 piece Die set 'Village of Light', a Creative Expressions Snowflake Slimline Stencil and a circle die.

Bundle 2 is a Memory Box Stamp Set called Graceful Fern, a Creative Expressions Snowflake Slimline Stencil and a circle die

PLEASE NOTE MY LITTLE GIFTS ARE ONLY OPEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE FOLLOWED MY BLOG PREVIOUSLY AND HAVE COMMENTED ON POSTS SINCE THE START OF 2022.
IF THIS IS YOU AND YOU WANT TO GO INTO THE HAT JUST LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST AND SAY YOU WANT TO BE INCLUDED.
Please don't just come along and leave a comment now to be in with a chance of the giveaway! I will check!
I'll number you in the order you comment and will do a draw on 30th MARCH.
I will post to anywhere but can't be responsible for any taxes!

THANK YOU TO ALL MY LOVELY BLOGLAND FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH ME DURING MY STRESSFUL TIME!  XX

Magnolia

A scheduled post - regular visitors to my blog will know I am on the DT for CAS Mix Up and normally we have a new challenge on the 1st of every month.
If you have visited the CAS Mix Up blog in the last few days you will have seen the little note from Loll announcing that our challenges are temporarily on hold  - never fear we will be back as soon as we can!

Here's a make using a stamp which was a present from a friend - I took the pic before I added the sentiment!

Some light ink blending for the background in Spun Sugar and Tumbled Glass.

I stamped the image direct on the background, then stamped again onto some card and heat embossed before watercolouring and fussy cutting it out.

This is a really big stamp so there's a little bit of it cut off at the bottom.

Matted onto black card before mounting on the base card.
The stark white base card didn't look right so I blended a little of the same background colours onto it which gave a much softer effect.

Was a quick and relatively simple make too!

Thanks for looking - hope everyone is safe and well in blogland and I'll be back soon! x

Circles

This is a quick scheduled post from me as although we have FINALLY moved into our lovely new home (soooooo happy!!) we will not have an internet connection until at least the middle of this month and uploading pics is taking a massive toll on my mobile data allowance!

So my make here was intended as a DT card but as CAS Mix Up is temporarily on hold we have no challenges for a short while so I thought I would just share it anyway!
Various circle stencils and circle dies, sponging and stamping to make this birthday card!

We have been busy constructing the 'Happy Place' otherwise known as 'our joint Playroom' where I have my craftie space and OH' has his monitors and PC for his mad gaming with his middle aged mates - will bore you all to death with the pics once I get broadband!

Until then, thanks for looking and and any comments you may leave, I hope it won't be too long before I can catch up with you all again. 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 and FINALLY!!!!

Our CAS Mix Up January challenge of 'Loose Watercolour' is half way through and you have until 24th of the month to join us.

There's already some lovely cards in our gallery and we love to see your creations!

I did a bit of accent stamping to highlight the lovely big flower which is from Altenew. It's one from their layered sets and I just used the outline stamp.

Stamped it in a pigment ink in a dark pink shade and then once dry watercoloured.

Hope you can join us this month - the DT and our Guest designer Karen (Random Reflections)
have lots to inspire you!


My lovely blog visitors will know what a terrible trial we have had since selling our home last May and then moving into a tiny (and very cold) rented property supposedly for a few weeks.
Almost 7 months on we finally exchanged contracts on our new home on 11th of this month, we get our hands on the keys on the 19th and our removal firm are booked for 21st.
I cried with relief when we finally exchanged contracts, it has been a long hard few months, fraught with worry wondering if it was going to happen at all.

I have several more grey hairs than I did 6 months ago! Anyway, onward and upward for us now.
The new place doesn't need anything doing in terms of decorating but we do have to buy new furniture so that will be exciting and more importantly I am looking forward to a brand new craft space! (The only downside is no internet until mid February!)
To those of you who have sent me message of support and put up with me generally moaning and being miserable for what probably seems like an eternity, (you know who you are), I thank you and am eternally grateful for my blogland buddies.
I will be back as soon as I am able. x

First Christmas Card 2022!

Last year I joined in at CAS Christmas for almost every month apart from one so am trying to have another go this year. Seems quite weird making Christmas cards so early but last year playing along every month helped me a bit so there was not as mad a rush at the end which was just as well considering the house situation!
I also have not yet re-packed  the few Christmas stamps I'd got out so it made sense to use them!

The first challenge of the year is 'Silver and Gold'.

I took a circle stencil/mask and lightly inked the outside in Hickory Smoke then tore some paper to make 'snow drifts' inside the circle and inked.

The stamps are all from Lavinia and Inkylicious.
The embossing was a bit tricky!

I did all the silver stamping and embossing first, then embossed the gold tree. Used an embossing pen to dab onto the berries and gold embossed.
I was a little apprehensive in case I overheated the silver and made it dull but thankfully it all turned out OK and it really is shiny in real life!

The sentiment stamp was a freebie in a craft mag last year - was quite disappointed with it as it didn't give a crisp impression but you can make out the words 'Winter Greetings' when you have hold of it so overall am quite happy with the way the card looks.
One down - lots to go!
Peace On Earth have a Christmas theme of  'Anything Goes', so am popping this into their gallery too and Country View Challenges January challenge is 'A Year to Sparkle and Shine'.

New Year, New Challenge!

Today is the start of our new challenge after our December break over at CAS Mix Up. Jenny has given us the task of 'Loose Watercolouring'.

There's lots of links to tutorials over on the challenge blog and also some fab examples from the DT and I really hope you will be able to join in with us - after all no doubt you all got lots of lovely stash at Christmas so time to use it!

I enjoyed doing this as it was nice to just be able to watch the colours blend together without any effort on my part - apart from putting the paint on the brush.

Stamped the flowers onto watercolour card and just left to dry overnight. Wet the image then added the colour - simple and looks quite artsy (well I think so anyway!)
It's unlikely to win any accolades from art critics but I'm quite pleased with it!

Quick and easy, added a simple sentiment and matted onto coloured cardstock - job done.

Visitors to my blog will know that the latter part of 2021 was quite a stressful time for me on top of Covid, let's hope 2022 is a better year for us all.
 
Thanks for looking today, appreciate it! 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

Moon

Another Christmas/Winter make.

The Inkylicious moon mask has taken a hammering this year along with a couple of stamps owing to the fact that I cannot access all my stash!

Bottom masked with some torn paper then ink blended the sky. Stamped the Twiggy Branches then removed the mask from the bottom.

It looked a bit bare so more torn paper and more stamping,with a bit (?!) of blending.

I wasn't too happy with the bottom as I went a bit daft 🙈 trying to do snow drifts and used too much ink.
Finished with some White Nuvo Crystal Drops.

Tomorrow should have been Moving Day. Should have been😭😭.

Yet another delay😡 at the top of this chain as their solicitors seem completely incompetent and we were told it is 'unlikely that anything will be done until the New Year'.
Our solicitor is tearing her hair out as we and the lady we are buying from are all ready to go, as is the next two in the chain, it's the one after that that is causing all this stress, grief and disappointment, not to mention cost.
Coupled with the new 'work from home' edict from the Government because of the huge rise in infections here, this will only add to further delays no doubt.
It's incredibly depressing and when you think we should have only been here for about 6-8 weeks and we've now been here 6 months, with cardboard boxes stacked floor to ceiling and furniture stacked everywhere. I am beginning to think we are going to be stuck here forever!
Moan over! x

Majestic

I have ploughed on with the Christmas cards and they're now all done and ready to go.  I held off as long as possible as I thought I may be able to pop in the new address but..................😩😩 so I have spent the morning sticking down the envelopes!

Over the last couple of years I have gone for clear cling stamps and steered away from rubber - I liked the ability to see where and what I was stamping and found it easier to construct scenes.

But there have been some stamps that I liked very much so have stopped bothering about if they're 'see through' or not and just bought them!

This Katzelkraft scene is one of those stamps - and to be honest I have used it to death making lots of Christmas cards with it and just doing different background colours and different moon positions!

This one was an attempt at a subtle Northern Lights background and is one of the lighter coloured mix that I used.

The moon stamp is from Inkylicious
I left them all sentiment-less on the front as I just wanted the majestic image to stand out. I'll share one or two of the others at some point.They have the added bonus of being one layer too!

Linking up at
Sweet Stamping - A/Christmas
Krafty Chicks - Stamp Act
Winter Wonderland - A/Christmas

We have the WORST weather today - lashing rain, some hailstones thrown in and high winds. Winter is definitely here!
Have a good day whatever you're doing. x