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

The In Beween Bit

 Does anyone else always think the bit between Christmas and New Year is odd? I always feel like we should be doing SOMETHING but don't know what, although this year restrictions have made the decisions on what to do for us - which is NOT A LOT!
We have however been out this morning for a walk as we had ⛄snow overnight and I simply had to get out in it (love💝💝 it!). Hope it lasts but it probably isn't going to as some of it has gone already .. 😞
So my share today is a Snowy Scene

A one layer card using a rectangle stencil to make the mask round the edges.

The stamps are by Hobby Art called 'Country Walk'
I used Speckled Egg DI for the sky - fast becoming my 'go to' colour now for  EVERYTHING!

A little bit of sponging for snowdrifts (which don't show up very well in the pic) and the rest coloured with watercolours.

Sharing at
Alphabet - S for Snow Scene

and here's a couple of pics from this morning -

Thanks for calling in. Stay safe. x

Peace

 

I realised as I was writing this post that I have not made many white on white or predominantly white cards this year but this was one of the few!

Made with some odd bits left over from other cards so I am paying a visit over at the Playground.

An oddment of card was the basis for the centrepiece and the stamp is from Honey Doo which is in fact a swirly Christmas tree that I turned upside down and angled it, stamping in metallic silver ink and then rounded off two corners.

Once this bit was dry, I backed it with some matt silver card - I by far prefer this to mirri card as I think it is just a little bit more subtle yet still gives a nice sheen.

Some silver sparkly and white card to make the layered snowflake and I silver embossed the Peace sentiment.

The news here in the UK has not been good today and (coupled with some personal sadness over the last week), it has once again highlighted to me that although at the moment there are so many things over which we have no control we can only try to stay positive and hope for better times ahead.

Christmas has always been a quiet two person affair for us so nothing is different this year but I know there are many who will miss being surrounded by family.
I want to say a massive thank you to those who have kept visiting me this year - you have kept me going through all this madness.

I wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas and I hope that 2021 is a better year for us all. X

Sharing my card at -
Time Out - Photo Insp
Use Your Stuff- Winter/Snow/Christmas

Cupcake Inspirations - Snowflakes
Mix It Up - A/Goes + CAS
Stamplorations - Sparkle and Shimmer

Monochrome

I've continued making Christmas cards! I think because I wasn't rushed this year it has made it something I've enjoyed so have decided to not put away the Christmas stamps. I am going to keep a few makes out - just in case there's anyone I have forgotten!

I like monochrome but usually add a pop of colour - when I finished this card though, I liked it just as it was, so the idea of coloured stars on the top of the front line of trees was discarded.
A simple to do card with some second and third generation stamping. I added some well watered down Hickory Smoke Distress Oxide under the trees and under the deer for some shading and smudged a white Posca pen over the top of it.
A liberal spattering of the Posca pen to finish it off.

We have this morning put up the Christmas Tree! This is nothing unusual for us as we always wait till the week before - it's not that I am a complete Bah Humbug person (!) but to be honest I have never been any different - I get sick of looking at it if it goes up too soon!
Waiting for it to go a little darker then as always I will take a pic for our yearly album - which this year is a little sparse as we've not been anywhere - and I don't want a pic of the front of Aldi or Tesco in there!

Thanks for calling in today. Hope all is well in your part of blogland. xx
Sharing over at
MTTC - Monochrome
Alphabet - S for Snow Scene
Fezziwigs - Last Minute Christmas
Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas Goes
Sweet Stampin - Last Minute Christmas

Pine Cones

A quick share from me today.

Made this using some watercolour cardstock and my Arteza Waterbrush pens

The stamp is called Brush Pines from Penny Black and it is one of my fave 'go to' Christmas stamps.

I started by inking the pine cones first and spritzing with water, then went on to the pine needles, using a couple of different shades, inking and spritzing as I went along until I was happy!

I dragged some of the colour from the pines outwards and then added a very pale blue/grey wash to the entire front.

A white pen highlighted the cones.
The sentiment is from SU.

Sharing this with
Krafty Chicks - Christmas
PBSC - Christmas
Craft Gals Corner - Tis the Season
Just as well that we are still under the toughest restrictions and unable to do anything as once again we have a very grey and damp day!

A perfect excuse to sit at the craft desk - am hoping that Mr Mojo will join me at some point! x