Flying High

Had a bit of a re-jig in the craftie space and a good tidy this morning - bet now I won't be able to find anything......

I've been messing about with inks again - this time Pine Needles and Weathered Wood with a bit of Fossilized Amber.
And am feeling quite pleased with myself as I have today (round of applause please👏👏👏) used two NEVER BEFORE USED Dies!!!

So after inking the main panel, I randomly stamped the cogs using Tea Dye DI and used the wire honeycomby stamp from SU Butterfly Basics inked in Versafine Smokey Grey along the bottom and right side edge.

The sentiment was a rectangle, but used the MISTI to re-position into a straight sentence. Looks a bit light here but is OK in real life!

The balloon die was rubbed with Pine Needles DI, then I applied a liberal helping metallic rubs in verdi gris and gold. Cut a piece of green vellum to sit behind it.

Finished off with the Never Before Used cogs die, and pewter, rust and gold rubs applied here too!
Matted and layered onto dark brown then Bermuda Bay card stock.

Challenges -
Stampin' Royalty #362 - Dies
OLLCB - Use Die Cuts
Cardz 4 Guyz - No patterned paper
TIOT -  Let's Get Messy
and I am also entering into this into #430 at Color Throwdown who have this gorgeous inspiration pic!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by today. Appreciate any comments you might leave - have a great week! x

Romance?

I don't do soppy.   With Valentine's Day looming, I am fed up with soppy!
Valentines' Day is dear husband's birthday.      We don't do Valentine's day.
We don't really do birthdays either - not cards or presents but we normally have a nice meal around the date - not ON the date 'cos everywhere is full of soppy!!!

I have made a 'not soppy' Love card - made for no other reason than I was feeling a teeny weeny bit soppy.
 
The heart stamp was a cheapie from Hobby Crafts - bought it as I don't posess any heart stamps and thought it might be needed.... first time it's seen ink!
I used a Brilliance Ink Pad in Rocket Red for the heart and the splats (which are from a Visible Image set).

The ink splatters across the card were a mix of the Rocket Red ink and Festive Berries DI as I wasn't sure if mixing water with just the Brilliance ink would work!
Mounted the heart on a scrap of vellum cut with a nestie, stamped the sentiment in Onyx Black and added a strip of corrugated red card (which means I can go play again over at CAS Mix Up!)

Unsurprisingly there's lots of soppy love themed challenges around so am linking to -

Crafty Purple Frog - Love is All Around
House of Cards - Love theme
Time Out - Inspired by words
              (and I have used 'Heart')
Uniko - Anything Goes
Allsorts - Hearts
AAA - CAS
House that Stamps Built -
                   Red/Hearts/Vellum

It's very cold here today. We've had a couple of snow flurries but it hasn't stayed. Changed the bed and done a little bit of housework this morning. Planning now on having a lazy day in the craftie space - in the warm!

Thanks for looking today - have a great weekend whatever you're doing - and if you're doing 'soppy' - enjoy!!  x  

Thursday

The days have passed quite quickly and there never seems to be enough hours in the day!
I have made a couple of cards and hoping that I will be able to link the other one up CAS Mix Up February Challenge as well as this one (if I ever finish it that is!)

I am always inspired by stuff seen on Pinterest and I suppose this one came from there too!
The challenge was to use corrugated card, with stamping and your choice of other techniques - I went overboard I think as I ended up using as 'my choice' - Fussy cutting, heat embossing, Distress Inks, splatter and vellum!

The colour combo is one of my faves.
This was quite quick to do and used up some odd scraps of Aqua and Black card along with a snippet of vellum.

The card was ran through the 'crimper' and just torn. Before fixing I lightly splattered some Peacock Feathers DI onto the white panel.
The butterfly was heat embossed in white, fussy cut and smooshed through the craft mat where I'd put the DI!
A scrap of ribbon, a sentiment stamped onto the tiniest piece of aqau card and a couple of gems to finish.

I am beginning to panic a little as I appear to have completely abandoned all the fussy and fancy stuff just lately.
I don't know whether it is because I always seem to not have a lot of time so am opting for clean and simple cards or because I am finding that CAS has become my 'thing'. Although as always I wonder if my CAS is well just too - CAS!!
I am not giving up hope that I will once again delve back into the stitching, distressing, generally throw everything on a card type of make - after all whatever will I do with all this stuff if I do????

Thanks for looking!
Hope your day has been good whatever you've been doing! x

More Alcohol

I was having a lovely time last week until that damn virus which I had before Christmas decided to put in yet another appearance. Not as bad this time but enough to make me feel more than a little fed up with myself....!
So the title of my post does not mean I used the coughing as an excuse to lubricate myself with drink (not that I need much encouragement) -  it means that I have made another card with the neglected alco inks!

I am beginning to enjoy just being able to chuck liquid inks onto a sheet of paper and have them all merge into yummy colours.
I am though struggling as to what to use the coloured sheets for but this one shouted Autumn Leaves.

Ivory linen textured card used as the base.
Colours on Yupo were Butterscotch, Caramel, Ginger and Latte.

I am hoping that these 3 shades are close enough on the colour wheel for me to join in at Less Is More this week. They are celebrating their 6th Birthday so I thought that a 'Thank you' to those who run the blog was called for!
The leaves actually have some distinct embossed veins which don't show up too well in the pic, but are quite effective.

The left over snippet was used as a dimensional panel - waste not, want not. So I am also taking my coughing body into the Playground - but will wrap a scarf round my face to keep my germs to myself!
Going to spend today catching up in blogland so will be visiting you all soon! xx

Animal Magic and other things!

Animal Magic is the theme of our challenge this month at Stamping Sensations . Great prizes again up for grabs but please observe our rules and remember we are a STAMPING challenge so must see a stamped image or sentiment as the FOCAL point. If you follow our rules you could be in with a chance of winning this fab prize from TATTERED LACE

I have a lot of stamps I rarely use - no surprise there then.... and I bet I am not alone.😛 I buy because I like them, maybe use them once (or even not at all) and then store them away.

This LOTV stamp is one of those (along with the other 3 I bought from the Mice set....) - this one has seen ink twice, the others once each I think!

I always think LOTV stamps need lots of embellies but I have tried to do one with hardly any on it at all - as I am intending on sending this through the post.

Originally I had a plain base but it really did look stark so this tiny flower embossing folder which was free in a magazine last year (or the year before?) was also taken out of it's wrapping!

Our flower shop mice were coloured with Promarkers, then matted onto green card after using a X stitch die to cut it out.
The little tags were snippets left over from the green card and the sentiment is from SU.

Other Challenges -
Crazy 4 Challenges - Animals

Thanks for taking time to have a look today - hope you will join us! x 

Time Flies

Not much time for crafting this week - had 2 lovely days out - the Warner Studios Harry Potter Tour at the beginning of the week and an afternoon at the cinema yesterday. Brilliant days - the tour was awesome - loved it.
Time really has flown but I made a man card!

 Quick and simple but I rather like it!

I used an Ivory linen textured base as a change - I have stacks of this card and I really do have to use it instead of reaching for the white all the time.
This clock embossing folder is NBUS!! Had it about 2 years - shame on me. But will pop over to join Darnell's little party with it and sending her get well wishes as she has had some surgery this week. (xx)

I used Peacock Feathers, Wild Honey, Cracked Pistachio Distress Inks. The dark green verdi gris colour was achieved with the overlapping of the DI's - like it!

Doesn't show up very well on the pic but I used some long neglected Metallic rub in an Olive colour across the dark green bits and it has a lovely finish.
I mounted it onto a dark brown base and stamped the sentiment in Rich Cocoa.
Added the clock charm as an afterthought!

Happy girlie though 'cos I don't have a lot of male themed cards in the stash so really do need to try and rectify that as soon as possible - won't be for a little while though as I am away this next week.
Will pop round and see you all as often as I can.
Challenges -
A Vintage Journey - Circles (well clocks/watches are round!!)
Aud Sentiments - Masculine
Crafty Addicts - A/Goes
Thanks for looking! Have a great weekend whatever you're doing. x 

Alco Inks - 1.

I have had bottles and bottles of Alcohol Inks for years. I have used them exactly 5 times ......... 😕..........Until now.😀
I have always used them on metal (OH used to supply the beer cans!!) when I was doing a lot of mixed media and not a lot of card making. In recent times I have forsaken the mixed media side of things (although I still have tons of stuff/canvases/modelling paste etc etc) and concentrated on cards - mainly because time is at a premium and also I can sell the cards and the money goes in the charity pot!
BUT - being an avid follower of Loll's blog, I saw the beautiful cards she made using Alco Inks so off to Amazon I went and ordered some Yupo paper.

It arrived and I spent yesterday playing about with the dusty inks.This is the first of 3 cards made yesterday - the other 2 are not Christmas related!

I used Lettuce, Watermelon and Red Pepper colours and after watching Loll's tutorial used some tin foil to mix my colours then dragged the paper through.
Sprayed some Alco Ink blending solution in a mini- ister and when it dried this piece reminded me of Christmas colours - Cue the poinsettia die.
The sentiment is from Stamping Up's Beautiful Season set and I used Encore Gold Metallic Ink. 

The stitched frame was a bit of a mistake. I meant to emboss and ended up cutting! Rescued it by putting it back inside the already embossed outer frame!

I am secretly quite pleased with myself for finally using the long neglected inks. AND I am secretly quite pleased with the result!

Challenges -
Christmas @ Sweet Stampin - A/Goes
Sweet Stampin - Dies
Paper Players - CAS/Use a flower
C+GI - No designer paper
ABC Christmas - A = Anything Goes
Time Out - Pic Inspiration  here - and I used the red/white/green colours as inspiration!

Thanks for looking and I also thank you very very much if you have left me a comment - I appreciate them all!
Have a great day whatever you're doing! x

Colour burst

I promised myself that I would try and enter the CAS Mix Up Challenge as often as I could when time allowed. The challenge was Stamping, Liquid Colours and your choice.
This card has been lying finished for over a week and am just getting round to posting - but better late than never and thankfully am still well in time as the challenge doesn't end for a while!

I wish I wasn't so messy!! It's not like I don't have tons of desk space because I do -  but I am just too lazy to move anything so consequently when I start spraying not only does the piece I am working on receive the spray but everything in the near vicinity gets a dose too.

I made the panel first (my choice - acrylic block with Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade and Mustard Seed) on a left over piece of watercolour paper, then stamped the flower in white and heat embossed. Stamped again in gold and heat embossed again.
Some gold cosmic shimmer spray splattered and sprayed (did manage to get SOME on the card!).
Finished with a snippet of vellum, heat embossed with the sentiment.
Am also popping over to the Playground with my snippets make.

Other Challenges -
ATS & M - Photo Inspiration here 
 ( I loved the rainbow colours of the flower - opted to use the lemon and orange shade from the petals for this make)
The Crafty Addicts - Monochromatic
Glitter n Sparkle - Use gold

Have a great day whatever you're doing! x 
  
 

Saturday already?

Can someone tell me where this week went? Looking in at blogland I realised  my last post was Sunday! Normally I can put absences down to my other life (!!) - but confess that nothing from the bowling side has intruded this week so NO EXCUSE!!

I have though taken possession of something I coveted ever since I saw a sneak peek of them.. here it is - my new stamp set - Stampin Up's 'Beautiful You'. (Happy dance when it dropped through the door - thanks Sue!)

It is not usual for me to actually ACT on my 'I really want this stamp' thoughts particularly as I don't have a lot of crafting time with the Bowls England stuff - but I made an exception with this set - I SIMPLY HAD TO HAVE IT!
Out there in blogland I noticed that the set had been used on a dark card background so thought I would give it a try.
A bit of a change from my normal white (don't worry- the other stamps have been put onto white card!!) - but am actually quite happy with the result considering it is something I don't do very often.
Stamped image then used wax pastels. Had to overstamp as the pastels covered up the skirt folds (so thanks MISTI!)

Ran the white round the edge of the sea (OK I know it doesn';t really look like waves but you get the idea!) and made a little path in the sand. Stamped a couple of sand drifts using Fossilized Amber DI.
The sentiment is hiding a sin - tried to colour a sun and made a mess - so sentiment had to be stamped separately instead of direct across the sun - which was my original intention!

Challenges -
Daring Cardmakers - Try Something New
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Craft Rocket - Anything Goes
Craft 4 the Craic - Pick Me up ( and I can think of nothing better than a walk barefoot in the sand on a warm day to make you feel good!)
Thanks for having a look today - will be around in a little while to visit you all.
Have a great day whatever you're doing. x  

Playing!

Just been having a couple of days playing about with the Misti and it's probably one of the best things ever - but even with the new toy Mr Mojo must still be hungover from Christmas and lying down in a dark room somewhere as I currently am completely devoid of ideas.
So where do you turn to - Pinterest of course - well I do anyway.
So here's a CASE.

I have had this stamp for a few months and never used it.
I bought the stamp intending it to be donated as a prize - but then it just lay (with another one bought at the same time) on the shelf.  Being devoid of ideas and seeing how it was used during my internet trawl, I decided I might as well use it myself!
So have gone mad with it this week - and am actually quite happy I didn't give it away.

Made a set of note cards using the stamp with different colours for the flowers (which I will share at another time) and had a bit of a mess about with some masking, sponging and double stamping on this one.

Happy with how this turned out - it's a lovely softie feminine type card.


Challenges -
Sweet Stamping - Something New
Just Us Girls - New
MTTC - Something New
Flower Challenge - Blue and Yellow
(Am hoping the background sponging counts as yellow enough - I used a mix of Squeezed Lemonade and Shabby Shutters as the Squeezed Lemonade I didn't think gave enough depth.)

Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Normality?

Don't like housework (who does) but there's something very satisfying about putting everything back where it belongs once you've taken down your Christmas Tree! That's how I spent my morning after my hour walk on the treadmill....
So after the flurry of morning activity I escaped to the craftie space and satisfied my 'sit down and do something' craving!

I am continuing with my 'CAS' phase I think - am finding it very therapeutic during my 'me' time, although I do still have a thing for vintage shabby!

Played with the MISTI again too - have had these flower stamps from Clearly Besotted for a while but have struggled to get them lined up with the dies - the MISTI does do what it says on the tin and am eternally grateful to my lovely husband for the bestest Christmas present!!

Had a bit of fun with the window ledge - it's actually the bottom of a window die - was going to use the whole window but put inky fingermarks on it so had to cut the actual window frame off and just use the bottom bit!

Stuck onto the brick embossed background with some 3d foam - stands up really well and am pleased with the dimensional effect.

The red vase was mounted using some thin foam whereas the blue one had some really thick foam so it overlaps the red one. Same for the flowers and the leaves.
Popped little pearls in the same colours into the flower middles. 
Left a sentiment off this - it's just one for the stash box so when I come to use it will decide what I'm going to put on it!

All snippets used for the vases/flowers so I am paying my first visit this year to the Playground!
Am also popping over to Less Is More where their challenge is 'Dimension' and to Dies R Us where Anything Goes with Dies.  
Thanks for looking - coffee now in hand am into blogland to see what you've all been up to! x

Coffee..... with Cream?

Happy New Year everybody! So that's 2016 over then!
Hope the festivities have not meant that you need Coffee this morning (either with or without Cream!)  😏
That's the challenge this month at Stamping Sensations - COFFEE AND CREAM.
Please make sure you read our challenge rules before submitting an entry and please pop across to the blog to see our wonderful prize and check out my teamies makes for some inspiration!

I've used Ivory Linen card as my base for this month's offering- it is a little more creamy colour in real life - I think the 'Auto' setting on the camera interpreted it as White!

The flower and the sentiment are from Technique Tuesday. I stamped the flower onto a scrap of card and white embossed - as the card was a dark beige the embossing is not bright white thankfully - has turned out an ivory colour.
It's painted with Brushed Corduroy and Gathered Twigs Distress Inks.

The flourish stamps were 'cheapies'! Bought in a bargain bin about 5 years ago and used I think once since I bought them - not that much of a bargain then......!
I experimented using the DI's on the flourishes but the impressions were not good so I tried a variety of inks/colours before finding one that I suppose I should have gone to in the first place - good old reliant Versamark Vintage Sepia!

Hope you like and I hope that you come and join us for our challenge this month!

Other Challenges -
A Perfect Time to Craft #1 - A/Goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - A/Goes
Paper Creator Crafts - A/Goes
Creative Knockouts - A/Goes 

Have a great day whatever you're doing! x

An old stamp

Decided I am going to have a clear out in the New Year. I have so much stuff that I am simply never going to use. I have enough paper to fill a craft shop and so many stamps which were bought with no purpose other than I liked them and they've never seen ink.
I know this is 'Crafter's Curse'  'cos every crafter I know does it but I really am intending to sort it out. I don't hold on to old clothes that I no longer wear so why am I storing all this lot???

So, now that I have said that - here's an old (VERY OLD)  stamp.
Seen ink once before.
Wood backed, a big stamp and don't know why I bought it and don't want to keep it!
But for old times sake I have used it - as I saw a card made with it using alco inks and I remembered I had it.... (not for long)

Ivory linen textured card.
Stamped and embossed with gold. Watercoloured then cut out the individual tiles.
Ran an embossing pen round the edges of the panel then gold embossed.
Mounted the tiles using foam pads for dimension and then mounted the panel.

Stamp is called Paris Moments by Hampton Arts and is now consigned to the 'Dispose Of' pile which is growing rather alarmingly....

No sentiment on this one - just one for the 'Just In Case' box where I go to when I need a card in a hurry!

Challenges -
Creative Knockouts - A/Goes
4 Crafty Chicks - A/Goes
Crafty Gals Corner - A/Goes
CRAFT - A/Goes
Simon Says Stamp (Wednesday) - A/Goes

Thanks for looking! Will be back again over the weekend - New Years Eve is not a celebration for me just a time for remembering Mum on her birthday - and consoling myself making inky and messy in the craft room!
If this is your last visit to me before 2017 then I wish you a very happy New Year! 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 

White Christmas?

No sign of a white Christmas here - just a windy and wet one at the moment!
We have locked the front door and decided we are not moving now until Tuesday!!
Last Christmas share from me for this year

Found a piece of white hammered card stock so used it up!

Thank you to all my blogging friends who have remained with me during what has been a very busy year (and without doubt it's going to be even busier next year), - I have appreciated that you have continued to visit when I have been unable to visit you and I have loved sharing your little bit of blogland with you and seeing your beautiful creations.

You have been my relaxation on my rare and precious time spent at  home.

I no doubt will spend a lot of time here in the craftie space over the holiday in between the food and drink!
'Me' time has been at such a premium this year, not just for me but for my wonderful husband who has ferried me about everywhere and been constantly at my side supporting me. I am very lucky.

I wish you all a peaceful wonderful Christmas whatever you're doing and whoever you're sharing it with, - if you are like me just 'us' or you have masses of family - I hope that you enjoy all the precious moments over this festive season. x

Pheonix?

Have spent the last couple of days ignoring Christmas (no tree/food shopping/anything else done) and spent some 'me' time messing about with inks. Have promised that the tree will get put up tomorrow and am going out later to do a bit of shopping. Not a busy time for me as there's only the two of us so we normally don't go to any great effort apart from the full hit Christmas Dinner!
I made this card yesterday.

 I demand that you stand up and give me a round of applause----- look at me using BRUSHOS!!! Had the darn things for such a long time and this is the first time I have managed to achieve anything remotely passable.

Sorting through stamps I came across this set of 'Fantastic Birds' - don't know if that is their real name but it's what I called them! This one reminded me of a Pheonix rising from the ashes and in a light bulb moment thought it might work with the dreaded Brushos.

So stamped onto watercolour card then heat embossed to create the 'resist'.
Used Orange, Yellow and Lemon Brushos, sprinkled, sprayed then shut my eyes!!
When I had the nerve to look at the piece I thought 'Hey - not too bad really'! Blotted with some paper towel and left it to dry.
I am not sure it needed the pearls really but put them on anyway and hope it still measures up to being a CAS card - shades of orange and pale gold to highlight the 'flames'.
The sentiment is by Technique Tuesday.

Challenges
CAS Watercolour - Watercolour Resist
Love to Create - Anything Goes
Creative Carte Blanche - Song Lyrics ( Pheonix Rising by Kristilada here) 

Quite a nice day here - blue sky but chilly! Off to get the carrier bags and hit the shops. Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Christmassed Out?

A change from Christmas for me today! Cards made and posted, (have kept some to share later) and now hoping that in the next couple of days I feel festive enough to put up the tree! (Bah Humbug!).
So here's something definitely not Christmas -

 Little bit of inky messy and a pleasant change from glitter and embossing powder!
Little oddments of card to make the centre panels and dusted Distress Inks in Tea Dye and Antique Linen with a bit of Scattered Straw. Am starting to become a bit more comfortable using the duster brushes.. only taken me about 5 years! 😁 LOL

Script stamp by Indigo Blu bought on a visit to the NEC eons ago, inked with Vintage Sepia - masked off the left side with a scrap of torn paper before stamping.
Flower stamp is from SU 'Bloom With Hope'. Painted it with Forest Moss for the stems and leaves and used Fired Brick and Festive Berries for the flower heads.
Intended to leave it blank but as the 'be happy' stamp was laying on the desk I used it!

Snippets Playground for me this morning - hope they've still got some Christmas Hooch and Mince Pies left!
And thanks to the amazing Loll who reminded me I hadn't linked up to the CAS Mix Up December Challenge.

Other Challenges -
The Flower Challenge - Use an Older stamp

Alphabet Challenge - U for Use Some thing Red (my flower heads)
Colour Crazy - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps - CAS

Thanks for visiting - am feeling a whole lot better than I did before I went away - just wish I could get rid of the cough! Oh and the week away? We lost in the semis - good time had by all and not too disappointed as we had a good run - and the team that beat us played better than we did!!
Have a great day whatever you're doing.. me? I am off to the craftie space - beats putting up the decs! x

Shimmer and Scraps!

Quick card share day again today - made entirely of scraps and used up stuff that was lying on the desk.

 I had been playing about with the 'smooshing' technique a couple of weeks ago and as per normal for me had used a rather large piece of  left over card when smooshing - (always done 'cos I am so heavy handed and I figure that if I used a MAHOOSIVE piece to start with,  when I am done I will have a small 'useable' bit!)

I have already made one similar card here back in October, but still had some smaller bits that I thought looked OK so used them to make this!

This was a card where I didn't have to flick bits of Gold Cosmic Shimmer powder everywhere like the last time as it was already done... and still not cleaned up properly either... but as it's Christmas the gold sparkley bits on the walls and the PC monitor look rather festive....

I did though add a few more bits of gold (carefully) to bits of the die cut trees and painted a teeny snippet of card (from the floor) with the gold then punched out a teeny star. Left over bits torn to make the snowdrifts at the bottom and some more sparkly glittery gluey stuff dragged across it.

Quite pleased with the way this one turned out -  shimmer is good and the different colours  achieved by the smooshing on close up looks quite reasonable!!

Challenges -
Pixies Playground - Week 259
Inkspirational - CAS with Sparkle
Happy Little Stampers - A/Goes with Dies
Happy Little Stampers - CAS Challenge with Smooshing
Dies R Us - Christmas
Creative Craft Cottage - Die Cuts

 Still haven't got rid of this dreadful cough  and am not 100% - feel like I have had this cold and bad chest for ages (well over a week at any rate...)- there's a lot of it about I'm told.
Am off again today for a few days - back at the end of the week.  -  this was supposed to be a relaxing break with a bit of bowls played just for fun with some good friends thrown in - am hoping I don't get on everyone's nerves when I start coughing and spluttering!!!!
Have a great week. x

Watercolour attempt!

Not been about for a few days -went to my Presentation but since arriving home have not emerged from under the duvet until midday today. Still not 100% but much better than I was on Monday - just need the donkey to stop kicking me in the ribs every time I cough now please! That said, I doubt if I will remain out of bed for very long again today......

Tried my hand at a little watercolouring at the end of last week - love this stamp!
Shame though that I didn't make a better job of stamping the sentiment - one of those times where if I'd felt better I probably would have re done - for some reason it didn't stamp cleanly - maybe there was something on the stamp pad.

Anyway, I still like the birdie and was pretty pleased that my painting attempt overall didn't look too bad.

Just used Distress Inks to paint and some glamour dusty stuff on the branch and berries. Quite pretty in real life ( as long as you don't look too close at the sentiment!)

Challenges -
A2S&M - Holiday
AAA - CAS Christmas
CAS on Sunday - Christmas
Fantasy Stampers - CAS Christmas

Am clutching my box of tissues and my medicine 😷 and off back to the covers - will try and visit you all very soon! x

Floral Fancies

December! Scary thought - in just two months time I will become President of Bowls England - EEK!!!

My DT offering for this month at Stamping Sensations is this Birthday card and out theme is Floral Fancies.

We are sponsored by Sizzix, and please pop over to the blog and check out the prizes....as it's Christmas we are giving away 3 prizes this month- but remember before you get all excited and start crafting -
WE ARE A STAMPING CHALLENGE!
So you have to have stamping as the focal point of your project!

I recently got my hands on Stampin Up's Butterfly Basics (Bargain!). So have used it to create this card.

Done on ivory linen textured card for a change from my usual white.

The stamps are lovely.
I used Distress Marker Peeled Paint on the flower stem and leaves and teamed it with a Versamagic 'Old Rose' for the flower heads.
The background was stamped using 'Burnt Umber' Versamagic and the sentiment was done in Memento Rich Cocoa.

Just matted it onto a co-ordinating piece of card and done.

Pretty and delicate - (not a bit like me!)
Hope you find time to join us this month, but please observe our rules then it is fair for everyone.
(Have scheduled this as I am at a Presentation Lunch in Bedfordshire so hope Mr Blogger behaves and publishes!)
Update - Also linking to this challenge -
Crafters Cafe - Birthday

Another Star

I have a stack of dark pearlised card. I have no idea why I bought it (or even how long I have had it). I know that I have never used  any of it. Just another observation from the craftie space.

So having once again looked at the stack and then put it back where I found it completely devoid of any ideas as to what to do with it, imaging how happy I was a couple of days later to come across  a pic of a card made entirely by using dark cardstock!

I contained my excitement long enough to use up just a teeny bit of the said dark pearlised card. (Along with some glitter paper - another buy, hardly used).
I made a base card then used up the rest of the card to make the stars and sentiment, so it's over to the Playground for me! 

The SU Bright and Beautiful stamp and die set used for this make.
The large star embossed with silver EP  then simply stamped with Versafine Smokey Grey on the second layer.
The third star die cut from the glitter paper and finally the smallest star fussy cut after stamping the second size again and embossing.
A little sparklie in the middle! 

The sentiment is one if you follow my blog you will have seen before - it's an old stamp I use every single Christmas!
Ran an oddment square left over after making the base card through the Cuttlebug to give the background some depth.

Quite pleased with this - and whoever it was who came up with the idea of using really dark card is quite simply - a genius!! 
Navy and maroon next........!

Challenges -
Die Cutting Divas - Make it Sparkle
Cuttlebug Mania - Light in the Darkness
Holly Jolly - A/thing Christmas
CCC -  A/thing Christmas

Winter

Happy Monday! I hope today has been a good start to your week.
Back to inkyness again for today's share.
Have quite enjoyed making some 'scenic' cards this year - OK they're not as accomplished as some of you can do here in blogland but I think I AM getting a little better.

I bought this stamp just before Christmas last year and made a couple of cards with it. This time I tried to make more depth and shadows with the ink (see- told you am getting adventurous!)
Because I wanted a much bigger card than the stamp, I also added another smaller berry branch (another Penny Black stamp) at the end of the fence.
I tried too to give the impression that the fence actually disappeared into the snow - not sure I have managed it but hey!

Images stamped with Versafine Onyx Black.
Used some red Stickles on all the berries - on reflection maybe I should have tried some white Pearlies? Might try that next time if I do another!
Inks used - Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Salty Ocean and Weathered Wood.
Have a great day whatever you're doing! 😊x  

Challenges -
Craft Rocket - Winter Time
Time Out - A/Goes with Glitter/Shimmer
4 Crafty Chicks - Winter Wonderland
Allsorts #391 - Anything Christmas
CCC #50 - Anything Christmas
MAWTT - Anything Christmas

Blogger Blues!

Evening everyone! Am not sure I like Blogger supposedly 'improving' things.... changes have not improved anything at all in my book  - a pain in the wotsit if you ask me. Why fix it if it ain't broken???
Anyway, here's a card from me today....

We had snow earlier this week. It lay for a couple of days - not a thick covering but enough so that the sheep in the filed looked like they had midget legs!
The snow there though was white - not Pool Party!
This is something that I saw on Pinterest (where else) and liked the idea so here's my version!

I have not bought any new stash for months and months and the trouble is there's so much new stuff about I have no idea which I really want -  and of course come February am I ever going to have any time to use it?

Hence I don't have any of the stitched dies - so I improvised and used a Dovecraft ruler which has perforated holes in it - which is why they aren't straight!!
Sentiment embossed in white and a bit of silver thread used for the 'tag'.
Just used two different snowflake stamps onto my fave white linen card.
Finished with some sparkly blingy.

Challenges -
Make My Monday - CAS Christmas
Crafty Creations - Christmas
Crafting By Designs- Christmas
Addicted to Stamps - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by - appreciate the visit! x 

Seeing Stars

Happy Saturday!
I have had a mammoth card making fest the last 2 days - day off tomorrow as I am travelling tonight to attend another Presentation in the Midlands, although I may get home tomorrow at a reasonable time - weather permitting!
We've had quite a bit of snow the last 2 days (one of the perils of living so high up!) and the window up here on the top floor is completely covered - although DH has been out this morning and says the roads on the lower levels are fine - we just have to negotiate down to the main road and the motorway!!

I bought these hessian stars last year and found them when looking for something else and I remembered a rustic style card I had seen which used a wooden star - hence an idea. I have no idea why I bought these excepting they were reduced! They are actually I think a little big for cards and probably were intended for a garland or something.

White linen card used as my base.
An Indigo Blu script stamps embossed in gold provided the background and I then randomly dabbed a paintbrush rubbed over an embossing pad to make the smudgy bits!
A couple of star stamps also embossed in gold.

The hessian star was simply stuck on using foam pads so it is a little raised from the card.

The two stars were die cuts which got a triple embossing treatment - serves them right - they were just laying there on the desk.....

I used some gold metallic embroidery thread - this thread was out of my Mum's embroidery stash - (I still have lots of colours left!) but there's something about gold and white that just shouts Christmas to me!!
The sentiment is from SU.
Challenges
4 Crafty Chicks - Fabric
Crimbo Crackers - A/goes
CRAFT - Christmas
Christmas at Sweet Stampin - A/Goes
Daring Cardmakers - Insp by Christmas Carol (Bright Star of Bethlehem - here) 
Stamplorations - Stamp and 3 (my 3 stars!)

Thanks for paying me a call today - hope you are warm and dry wherever you are! x😃

More Trees and a Super Moon!

Hello to you all from a very wet and windy north west of England! Not too warm either!
Have had a couple of free days since my last post - but went to a meeting yesterday -my train was delayed and the very unhelpful Virgin man said I couldn't transfer to another train and had to wait for the delayed one (which was over an hour late). Got myself agitated as I didn't want everyone else to be hanging about waiting for me - eventually managed to get myself on another (quicker) train with the help of a lovely man from Trans Pennine and arrived only 15 minutes late. Unimpressed with the Virgin employee and have complained about him!
Meeting over, uneventful trip home then into PJ's and the craft space for chill out.

Still have a bit of an inky fest going on - so here's another offering.
This time I used a Penny Black stamp called Christmas Park and embossed in white. Running out of White am using it that much at the moment!

Masked off the 'super' moon (actually it's a £2 coin) and underneath the top of the first white boundary line then out with the ink dusters.
Inks were - Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry and Milled Lavender.   Wasn't too sure about pink sky but I quite like it.
The 'pathway' was watercoloured with Pumice Stone

I used a 'hill and mountain' acetate mask for the bottom, lightly dusting the Tumbled Glass DI on the little mounds randomly.
Added a wee bit of glamour dust for sparkle.
Was a bit unhappy about the sentiment - opted to use a grey ink instead of black - it's not quite as sharp as I wanted it but overall am not too upset!

Challenges -
CAS Mix Up - Stamp and Mask
Sparkles Monthly - Christmas is Coming
Cardz4Gals- Contemporary Christmas
Inky Chicks- Winter Wonderland
TIOT - Trees

Thanks for visiting me today - have a lovely day whatever you're doing. x

Seeing Stars

A one layer card this morning to share - have done a couple of these in different colours - batch made some for Christmas which I will get round to sharing in a little while, but this one was made for someone who the sentiment fits perfectly.

It has been nice this week being able just to do what I wanted (excepting the housework of course 'cos no one wants to have to do that) - am away again tomorrow for another Presentation but hopefully will be able to share some makes and visit you all sometime today.

Been at it again with the dusters - the inky kind that is. Masked off , dusted then just randomly stamped the stars and gold embossed.
The sentiment is from Technique Tuesday.

It is sooo long since I entered the Less Is More challenge due to my Bowls England commitments but am paying them a visit this week where their theme is One Layer and Books or Literature. So 'The Fault in Our Stars' by John Green is  my choice. Am hoping that during the (slightly) calmer winter months I will be able to visit LIM a little more often!

I am sorry about the poor photo quality - it is another grey and damp day here in the North West! The card base is a bright white not the dismal colour as shown here!

Other Challenges -
Alphabet - S for Stars
Country View - Stars
CAS Mix Up November - Masking

Cuppa in hand - am away for a visit to blogland - thanks for looking and have a great day whatever you're doing. x

'Me' Time!

In the absence of Presentations to attend for a few days it's been really nice just doing things for me! And although I really DO need to do some housework/bed changing etc over the next couple of days, I ignored the dust yesterday and sat myself in the craftie space! Today I have had a couple of hours at a nearby indoor just bowling for fun with the OH - and now am firmly back in the craftie space (Dust again ignored.....)

 Result? I am feeling very smug as I am actually making Christmas Cards!!

All CAS, (and there is something very calming about making things uncluttered - just what I need after all the hectic pace of the last 8 months) -most nice and flat for posting - although I confess to adding a few blingy bits here and there on some - which I will share another time -  and the Christmas stash is swelling a little. Long way to go though.

Here's a bit of inky embossed nonsense to share, using up a piece of left over card for the matting.
The stamp is old so can't tell you anything about it!
White embossed then once again the dusters used for inking - I am getting on so much better with these now I have stopped trying to overload them with colour and build up the colour gradually.
The sentiment is a Penny Black one inked in Tumbled Glass DI.

My stocks of plain white card are quite low so time to start on the ton of linen and coloured card I have and not used. Got to make the most of the free time!

Challenges -
Inky Chicks -  Winter Wonderland
Cardz4Guyz- Oh Christmas Tree
TIOT - Trees (green or any other colour)
Holly Jolly - Trees
PB & M - Anything Christmas

Snow is forecast for us tonight -  goodie!! More Crafting Time!!
Thanks for looking today - have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Christmas Sentiments

November is here and our challenge this time at Stamping Sensations is designed to get you going for Christmas if you haven't already started!
The theme is 'Christmas Sentiment' so a nice broad theme - but please remember we need to see stamping as the focal point of your project.  

Please go over to the blog, check out the rules and check out what prize we have up for grabs this challenge as this is a scheduled post!

I am definitely not organised for Christmas- no change there then.....

I have had such a busy year travelling and now am on the round of Annual Presentation Dinners all over the country - so I am using that as my excuse for the distinct lack of Christmas makes this year!


This was a simple card to do.

The trees were stamped using a Brilliance Ink Pad called 'Pearlescent Ice Blue'. It's a gorgeous shade and beautifully iridescent - this pic does not do it justice at all as it has made it look more grey than it actually is!

Stamped and shadow stamped, then through the cuttlebug with the snow embossing folder.
Stazon Dove Grey used for the sentiment - which is one of my fave Christmas stamps as I love the script! Dabbed a little bit of Diamond Stickles round the base of the trees.... got to have some bling!
At least I have made ONE card this year!!
Thanks for looking - have a great day whatever you're doing! x

Other Challenges -
Fashionable Stamping - Trees
CCC #46 - A/Goes
CHC#306 - Anything Christmas

Post updated 7th November - Having a rare relax day today - just got a bit of paperwork to sort then  a day to myself - let's hop Mr Mojo puts in an appearance! x

Sunset

Simply not had any time since my last post - done a lot of travelling in the last week. Snatched a couple of hours this morning and did some inky backgrounds. A lot are for Christmas but I also needed a birthday card for a man.

Am practicing using different Distress Ink colours together and this was one of those combos.
Fired Brick, Festive Berries, Mustard Seed and Squeezed Lemonade.

I also opted to use an Ink Duster this time instead of my sponging.
The landscape die is 'never before used'!
The finished article looks vaguely familiar so it may well be that I have seen one similar somewhere!

The panel was mounted onto white linen card for a bit of texture. Made a bit of a mess of stamping the sentiment but wanted to finish SOMETHING, so not a lot I could do about it!
Keep thinking I will invest in a Misti..... maybe Father Christmas will bring one.

Off to the Playground as both the inked panel and the card used for the die were left overs. (3 weeks in a row - definitely something of a record for me at the moment!).

Other Challenges -
AAA- Masculine CAS
CYP - A/Goes
CFTH - A/Goes
Artistic Inspirations - A/Goes

Hope all is OK in your part of the world  - have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Good Intentions.....

Full of good intentions last week with a few free days - sum total of cards made = 3. THREE??? I mean REALLY???
Can't believe how much my brain refused to come up with anything more exciting than a couple of CAS Christmas Cards - but suppose I should be grateful that I have made 3 more for the Xmas stash!

Intended to share this before the weekend - but best laid plans and all that..
so here it is now - and my thanks to the amazing Loll for the inspiration.

Smooshed a left over of white linen card with DI's, Peeled Paint, Mowed Lawn and Shabby Shutters.
Once dry, used some gold cosmic shimmer powder and literally flicked and  splashed it onto the piece of card - (and on the walls, the PC screen and anywhere else left uncovered.....) then misted lightly with some water.

Left it to dry then cut out with a Christmas Tree dies, mounted onto foam and placed onto the gold edged panel.
The sentiment also simply stamped in metallic gold ink.
Quite happy with this too I think!

Snippet used so am away to the Playground - two weeks on the trot is a record recently!!
Other challenges -
613 Avenue Create - Green and Gold
CCC - Anything Goes
CRAFT - Christmas
MAWTT - Trees

Thanks for taking the time to stop by today - enjoy your day whatever you're doing! x 

Getting On

Have been completely uninspired whilst I have had my few free days - really irritating! I thought perhaps I should just then go and make a start on a few Christmas cards - brain blank!
Had to seek inspiration elsewhere and am beginning to wonder if Pinterest really IS such a good thing 'cos maybe it is TOO easy to just go trawling and find something to CASE instead of thinking for yourself?
Anyway I opted for the 'too easy' course and had a quick trawl and then remembered the new Muse Challenge  (No 188) and the lovely colour Jenni had used on her CAS card.
So armed with a starting point of the colour and the placement of an edged panel, I came up with this -

 I am beginning to be more and more drawn to CAS- in particular for Christmas as they're good for making batches! And I hope I am mastering the technique without it looking too plain. 

A snippet of white card, masked off the bottom and used a 1p piece for the masking of the moon! (All I had on the desk.....LOL)

Brushed on some Tumbled Glass DI and used a much neglected  Pine Branch Stamp inked in Versafine Smokey Gray.

Ran the piece through a snow EF and then matted it onto a snippet of black card.
The sentiment is from SU.

I made a couple like this using different colours for the sky and a berry stamp - will share these later.

Quite happy with these and at least I have made a start!!!

Challenges -
Pixies Playground - Snippets Week 251
That's Crafty - CAS
ABC Christmas Challenge - U 'Under the Pile'
CHCCE - Anything Christmas Goes

Thanks for stopping by - have a lovely day whatever you're doing. x

A Day to Myself

Happy Tuesday! Well Happy the next 3 days actually - am home until Friday and was looking forward to ignoring the housework and burrowing into the crafty space, just emerging for the odd cup of tea and a biscuit.
As usual, I sat down and thought 'What shall I do' - Answer - 'Absolutely Nothing.' How frustrating to have a whole day to do stuff for me and not be able to think of anything. Mr Mojo left far far away either on my quick relaxing holiday last week or with all the mayhem that has surrounded the entire summer season. Wherever he is I hope he comes back soon.

I desperately wanted to pay a visit into the Playground as it's been weeks since the last time and am missing everyone.

So with that in mind and a teeny scrap of white card laying on the desk I popped a circle die over it and inked with a few DI's. (Fossilized Amber, Mustard Seed, Squeezed Lemonade). Cut it out and then hunted out this ancient Cherry Blossom stamp.

I love this stamp. It was one of the first I bought whilst all things 'oriental' was the trend. I have never tired of it and no I can't tell you the manufacturer cos it was a wood backed one and I removed the wood backing when storage became a problem!

A quick card - the finished result not too bad and am hoping that it will inspire me now to use up my precious spare time getting back into making something!

I want to thank all my blogging buddies who have continued to visit my scheduled DT posts whilst I have been so busy on the Presidential train. I am making it my business to call round all of you whilst I have these few days spare! Get the kettle on!!
Challenges -
Addicted to Stamps - CAS
ABC - Q for Quick
Rubber Dance (October)- Colours (and I chose Yellow)
CFTH - Anything Goes
Stamplorations (Oct) - Stamps and Sponging

Autumn Shades

We have a brilliant prize for you this month at Stamping Sensations and our challenge theme is 'Shades of Autumn'. Pic of prize is shown at the end of this post!
Would love for you to join us - please check out the challenge rules carefully as we are a stamping challenge and the stamp MUST be the focal point of your submissions!
Back to another CAS card for me this month but I did manage to get inky.
I used cream textured card and after making a mess of a one layer attempt ended up doing a separate panel attached with 3d foam pads!

Masked off the panel then sponged DI's Barn door, Dried Marigold and Squeezed Lemonade, blending together as I went along.

The leaf stamp was 1 of a set of 4 and is very old.
Stamped randomly then gold embossed.

Script stamp is by Indigo Blu inked with Versamark Toffee Crunch.

After removing the masking tape I simply ran a gold gel panel along the top and bottom of the panel, finishing with the gold embossed sentiment.

So get out all the colours that remind you of Autumn and come and join us this month - you could win these.......

I am currently having a little break away from my Presidential Team duties and other bowls commitments. Some seriously needed down time necessary - it's been non stop this year! A little bit of sun and a big chill out!!
I will get to visit you all though  as soon as I get back home, so thank you for visiting and for any comments you leave me.

Other Challenges
Crafty Boots - Autumn is in the Air
CAS on Sunday - Heat Embossing
Glitter n Sparkle - Autumn
PB&more - Autumn Colour

One for the Boys - and finally in my own bed!

The summer months have quickly passed and here we are in September already! Time for another challenge at Stamping Sensations and this month the theme is 'One for The Boys'. Our prize is shown at the end of this post!  
PLEASE REMEMBER WE ARE A STAMPING CHALLENGE AND HAVE TO SEE STAMPING AS THE FOCAL POINT OF YOUR PROJECT.

For my card this month I opted for a vintage nautical look.
The papers are from a pad called 'Character' and I thought they were perfect for my travel theme.
I used neutral tones throughout layering the DP onto some kraft cardstock before adding it to the base card.
All stamping was done with Vintage Sepia Versamark ink.

I stamped the compass onto a text sheet from the same stack and fussy cut then stuck into the right top corner.

The left over sheet was used to stamp the sentiment and also to create the banner which I ran through my really old crimping machine. A couple of punched holes and some thick twine knotted at the top.

After stamping the image onto the hand made tag I added a little colour to the sea with 'Salty Ocean' DI. Inked the edges with Antique Linen. Same thick twine through the tag top.

Our prize is this selection of goodies  -  

Hope you will join us!

Other Challenges -
Pixies Playground
Gem of a Challenge - Twine
Just Us Girls - Travel

So - those of you who follw me will know I have been AWOL for a ridiculously long time - 32 days to be exact!
Arrived home yesterday from the National Championships - we were really lucky with the weather - just 2 bad days. I collapsed into my own bed last night - LOVED IT!!
Only two more nights home then am off again this time to Elgin in Scotland for the Under 25 Mens Internationals... home next week but will have time whilst here to come and visit you all. Coffee, biscuit and blogland - all a girl could dream of!
Thanks for staying with me - missed you all. x

Ribbons and Bows

Our challenge at Stamping Sensations this month is - 'RIBBONS AND BOWS' and we are sponsored by the fab !
A nice challenge which gives you lots of scope BUT please remember WE ARE A STAMPING CHALLENGE - so the focal point of your entry must be stamped!!!

I used an old Stempelglede stamp for this card. The set I have used many times - unlike some of my other stamps which have never seen ink!)

The DP papers are all odd bits from my stash, stitched, distressed and in some cases (like the darker pink piece on the left) stamped with a flourish stamp from the set and white embossed. I also ran another pice of pink card through the crimping machine then pressed down the embossing pad and threw some white EP over it!

The text pieces were in my 'save cos you might use them box'!
I used an odd scrap of  material tucking behind the image before stitching. The image was stamped in Memento ink then watercoloured.
Finished with some pink/peachy hand dyed seam binding and a large silver heart button.

Hope you can find some time to join in this month!

Other challenges -
Pixies Snippets