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

Flower

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

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

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

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

The word 'flower' is a Visible Image stamp.

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

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

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

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

A bit of Stamping

Our weather the last few days has been definitely not Spring like! We've had hail, heavy rain, sleet and high winds and the best place to be was indoors.

I did a little bit of stamping earlier in the week (having been inspired by Pinterest) and finally assembled them into cards this morning.

I haven't put a sentiment on any of them yet and not sure if I even will!

The hydrangea is from an old Choc Baroque set - it has a script background but I just inked the flower head with my waterbrush pens and gave it a light spritz before stamping.

Some foliage in shades of grey and green and I lightly distressed the edges of the panel.

This was quite quick to do once I stopped dithering about which stamps to use! The hydrangea is one of my fave flowers - the different colours of the flower heads depending on what type of soil it is in is another of those wonders of nature!

Himself and I had our first Covid jabs on Thursday.
I fared better than he did - headache, a heavy arm and felt very tired which have mostly gone today except for the little niggling headache  but my poor man got the works - shivers, sweats, unable to lift his head off the pillow.
Thankfully much better today and it's done now - until June anyway!
Hope all is well with you in your part of the world, stay safe - even if the vaccines are rolling out we're not quite out of the end of this long tunnel! x
Sharing at -
Daring Cardmakers - Plant a Flower
MTTC - Feminine
CRAFT - Feminine
CAS on Friday - Spring and also entering again over at 'The Flower Challenge'
for their 'Shades of Purple' challenge.

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 Christmas - March

CAS Mix Up's little sister blog CAS Christmas is also celebrating a birthday this month - and there are some great prizes on both blogs so come along and help us celebrate!

The Christmas challenge theme is Kraft, Red and White and it gave me an opportunity to use a die set bought last year and simply put away in the Xmas Die Folder!
Added a bit of interest to the plain white background with a 'snow' embossing folder and a few red mirri card punched out stars.

I don't use Kraft card nearly enough so made a couple of other cards whilst the challenge is running which I will share at some point. It also means I have more Christmas cards ready too which can only be a good thing!

Sharing over at
HLS (CAS) - 3 of a kind
A2S+M - Dies +/or Stencils
Holly and Ivy - A/Goes

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)

February Twofer

(Picture heavy post!)  The 'Twofer Challenge' this month has the theme of Balloons  - ( 'Twofer' - you have to make two cards for different occasions using the same stamps/dies/stencils.)

My first make is using an edger die which I bought last year and never used (another NBUS- this room is full of them!).

Despite it looking big and easy (and I thought versatile) there's not many different way really to use it - it is what it says - an 'edger die' and that's it!
BUT - it is OK for relatively CAS cards needed in a hurry if you're OK with fiddling about putting the different coloured balloon centres in.

By changing the balloon colours and/or using glitter card etc I suppose it may come in useful for Anniversaries and other Celebrations?

My balloon centres are cut from a piece of Peacock Feathers smooshed watercolour card and I used a piece of black card to secure them. A few ink spatters and a sentiment - job done.


The second card uses one of the white balloon diecuts from the first.
I coloured it with a Promarker.

I love this 'Inspired by  not endorsed by Banksy' girl  from Bee Crafty - she's called 'Hope'.

She was stamped onto an ink blended background (Speckled Egg sky and Twisted Citron ground) and added a tree stamp that was a magazine freebie.
Layered some Glossy Accents on the balloon and drew the strings from the balloon with a thin Posca Pen. Finished with an Inylicious sentiment.

Overall  I am not too disappointed with it although probably the balloon is a little big for the right perspective! (Crafter's Licence!)

If you've stayed right here to the very end I send hugs from my pleasantly warm and almost sunny part of blogland! x

Birthday

Having ventured outside in the howling gale earlier I quickly made my mind up that the best place to be was sat in the warm in the craft space!
So here is today's share.

Stencilled background to start then stamped the ferns in shades of brown and a few meadow grasses in green.

The flowers were stamped, watercoloured and fussy cut.
I added a few drops of Perfect Pearls in the centre

I would never hurt a bee but I am not fond of them near me - (I hate wasps even more!), so to me the best place for me to look at a bee is here on a card!

It took a bit of fussy cutting but I managed it in the end.

He has glossy accents on his wings and I quite like him (as long as he stays on the card!)

Am linking up at
A2S+M - Any Occasion
Unicorn  - Flowers

Thanks for calling in - stay safe wherever you are in the World. x

CAS Mix Up - mid month reminder

 Halfway through our Stencil Heat Embossing challenge at CAS Mix Up set by Nancy.
There's some great entries so far and there's still time to join in - the challenge runs until 24th of the month.

I used an old stencil which I think was called 'Animal Print' but have really no idea who's make it is.

I white embossed the animal print onto a left over piece of black card by using an Embossing Dabber then applying the powder.

Cut it into a square panel and matted it onto a square of white card.
A simply heat embossed gold and black sentiment onto another small piece of white card.

The animal 'parade' at the bottom is a Sheena Douglas stamp, inked in white and clear embossed.

This technique of embossing through stencils is one that I have enjoyed doing and will do some more I think.

Some lovely examples done again by our talented Design Team and I hope you can pop your make into our gallery!
 

Am also going over to the Snippets Playground where there is a special challenge (#396)  going on this fortnight!
Thanks for looking today and fingers crossed that all is well with you in your part of blogland. 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

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

CAS Mix Up February Challenge

It is Stencil month at CAS Mix Up and our host Nancy chose one of my favourite techniques - Stencil Heat Embossing.

Condolence cards are something that sadly at some point we all need and I found that my little supply was a bit low so have made a card for the type of occasion we hope we don't have to use too often.

I used two stencils for this card.
First I used Versamark ink through the trailing ivy stencil and a tub of Lilac embossing powder. Was a little concerned about this powder as it is literally YEARS old and never used! But it actually worked fine and it gave a really nice gloss finish.

The background stencil is from Lavinia  called 'Crackle' but it reminds me of a stone wall and I thought it would be a good backdrop for the ivy.

Lightly inked it with some make up brushes (which I find don't give as deep a coverage and I like it!) in Wilted Violet which was a good match.
Stamped the sentiment in Smokey Gray.

 Arlene (Sundaystamper Papercrafts) is our Guest Designer this month and you can check out her lovely make along with all the others from my talented DT buddies over at the CAS Mix Up blog.

Look forward to seeing your makes in our gallery too! x

Lotus

A very foggy damp day - can't even see the fields at the bottom of the garden, so another day of staying put (not that we could go anywhere even if we wanted to! 😄)
I was supposed to be trying for a 'no buy' month this month after us having a rather hefty bill for a new central heating boiler -  - - I can at least say I tried.....???

As soon as I saw this new stamp set from Sarah over at Funky Fossil, I had to have it. I just loved it. 💝

I have made a few cards with it and a first for me - I have actually used all the stamps in the set! So there will be more to show in the future but today I am just sharing a quick CAS make.

The stencil background is also from Funky Fossil (it just sort of fell into my basket🙈) - simply inked in Cracked Pistachio and Spun Sugar.

The single blossom stamp heat embossed, watercoloured and fussy cut and just popped on with foam pads.

I like the simplicity of this card - at a time when there is so much uncertainty and sadness I needed to make something serene and uncomplicated.

Linking up at
Stamplorations Stencil -A/Goes.
Unicorn -  CAS
TTCRD - A/Goes

Thanks for looking and wishing you all a lovely day whatever you're doing. x

 

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

Cas Mix Up Mid Month Reminder

Half way through this month's challenge at CAS Mix Up - Hilary is hosting and she chose 'Splatters' as her challenge!

As  I always struggle with male cards I have done one for my stash using this months challenge theme.

This really was a quick CAS card and to comply with our challenge rules, in addition to the stamping I added some clear heat embossing on the sentiment.

To start with I used the same stamp from Visible Image as on my Challenge launch card here.

I used Distress Oxides inks and after stamping each colour got out the paintbrush, inked it up and splattered!

Am thinking this will be a versatile card suitable for many ages!

The DT have some great makes this month so please pop over and visit them - and we hope that you will join us and splatter some ink! x

Twofer Guest Designer

Two posts in less than 12 hours! (Scroll down for the other!)

Delighted to have been asked to be Guest Designer for the Twofer Challenge this month - the prompt word is 'Flowers'.
For those who are wondering about 'Twofer' - you have to make two cards for different occasions using the same stamps/dies/stencils. It certainly makes you think!
I used a NBUS stamp set, Penny Black Dahlias. Have had it a while and thought this was a good opportunity to let the set see ink!

First card uses white heat embossing of the largest stamp in the set.

I smooshed the background with Picked Raspberry and Shaded Lilac.

I sometimes don't like the effect I get just inking direct onto my craft mat so I used Acetate instead - that way you can have a little control over the distribution of colours and see if they are too much.

Originally I was going to simply heat emboss the sentiment direct to the inked piece but changed my mind and went for the vellum instead.  A couple of pink enamel dots and done.

The second card was a little bit more complicated time wise as it involved a lot of masking and stamping.

Gold embossed this one and watercoloured it - used the same biggest stamp and a couple of smaller ones.
I used Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilized Amber and Wild Honey for the flowers and gave the background a very light colour wash of Tumbled Glass and a few ink spatters in Amber before gold embossing the sentiment.

Popped it onto a die cut square and used hammered cardstock for a bit of added texture.
Here's a pic below of the two cards together and the challenge runs until 24th of the month.

Thanks to Darnell and the team at Twofer for inviting me to be Guest Designer this month and thanks to you for looking today.
Sharing over at
NBUS #

Of the Sea

I was making sure that I had my scheduled posts all ready for Twofer and CAS when I realised I had not posted anything this week.
I was lucky enough recently to win a prize over at the Crafty Individuals Facebook Group just before Christmas and I chose this fab newly released stamp called 'Of the Sea'. (CI-559) A lovely Christmas present!

I love the sea and although we are blessed here with the most amazing countryside views, I would maybe one day like to live near the sea, so this stamp was made for me!

I stamped the image onto Mixed Media card, watercoloured and fussy cut. Once dry I distressed the edges a tiny bit, then used Antique Linen DI.
The background was done simply by smooshing Chipped Sapphire and Scattered Straw DI's onto acetate before transferring to the card.

The corner compass, the fishing net and some sandy texture (Sweet Dixie stamps) all done with the same Scattered Straw and then used the sentiment from the same set.

I will make no apologies now for the fact that I have several more of this lovely boat image stamped on the desk waiting so there are more to come.

Linking up with -
A2S+M - Make Your Mark
Lost Coast -  Beginning with 'B'
SOS - New
HLS Watercolour - A/Goes

We have had quite a bit of snow over the last few days and it is still here with no sign of a thaw just yet and here's a pic from the back of the house.

I love looking out when the world is white - and it currently lifts my spirits a little.
I hope you are all safe wherever you are and thanks for dropping by today. x

CAS Christmas!

Just when you thought it was time to forget about Christmas here's another Christmas card!
Once again this year I am going to try and take part in  the monthly challenges at  CAS Mix Up's  sister blog CAS Christmas.    (My DT card for Mix Up is the post below this one!)

This month's challenge prompt was Silhouette.

My bauble stencil is one bought from Inkylicious a long time ago.
I used Scattered Straw and  Speckled Egg for the background, with a little inking of Squeezed Lemonade to highlight the stars.

The Nativity scene stamp was part of the Sentimentally Yours set by Phil Martin and was a magazine freebie - I used it a lot this year.

I added a small piece of cord to the top and I lightly inked the edges of the white card before matting it onto black. The sentiment is from Penny Black.

Another card for the 2021 pile and a nice quick make!

We've had quite a bit of snow here over the last few days - and it is really cold.
In between the snow falling we have seen some stunning blue skies and if it wasn't for the white stuff on the ground from inside you would think it was summer!

I hope you're safe and warm wherever you are in the world and thanks for taking the time to visit my blog today. 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