Lets get sentimental

Good morning to you all, we have a new challenge at Allsorts and Helen has selected the theme of Sentiment in Focus. We have a lovely prize from Sweet Poppy.

Weeks ago when Helen selected her theme I knew exactly which focal stamp I would use, it's been a favourite wood mounted Penny Black stamp for many years called Dance, Sing, Love, 2695J which as far as I can tell about 25 years old dating to 2000/1. The floral corner is Penny Black 40-588 Blossom Branch. I would like to enter this one in Ellies current Garden Party and Make your Mark challenges.

Another favourite PB oldie also wood mounted is Hope is Born 3227K (2011 collection) along with another outing for the Spin tool using Elements and Clair inks, Lavinia Holly and Mistletoe to create a simple wreath design. I am linking this one to Word Power, Ellies Festive Christmas, Get ready for Christmas at Try it on Tuesday, Farmquest Country Christmas and The Holly and Ivy challenges.

Holly update as so many have been very kind asking, she's been brighter the last couple of days and tolerating food, we think possibly a bout of pancreatitis which she did have once before and maybe nothing to do with the cancer/tumour. So a low fat and fibre diet of chicken breast, venison and rabbit (visit to a local game butcher) and mashed potato. 

Winter Berries, shy Jay's and flocks of Swans

Apologies to my teams that I'm late posting, post was prepped days ago but somehow I put it into draft and with rather a lot going on didn't realise. Holly, my right hand girl has deteriorated quickly this week, Vet who did the op in August assures me she's not in pain, her tail wags as much as ever and she wants food but can't keep it down, it's heartbreaking getting to 'that' decision.

It's the 18th of the month so mid way inspiration at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations with Christmas themes at both. 

Above a fairly new to me Penny Black stamps, the sentiment wood mounted, nice that some can still be sourced (Buddly Crafts), a masked frame with some soft stencilling and the focal image inked direct to stamp using Ecoline pens. I would like to link up with this one at Craftalicious's optional Christmas traditional colours and Farmquest Christmas.

My one make of the week, yep still very slow going as I'm far from out of the woods yet and due in hospital for treatment in a few days. It's for one of our Son's and wife who love garden birds and especially Robins so an easy choice. All stamps, stencil and masks are Lavinia. I used snippets to stamp the Robins and vase a second time to paper piece so popping to the Playground. Added crackle glaze to the vase. I've not used the colours of the inspiration at Beautiful Blossoms but do have a bouquet of flowers.

Above my snippets.

Finally another Penny Black stamp, pretty CAS for me, stamped coloured and cut into three and a die cut sentiment. Linking this one to 12 months of Christmas.

I made the above especially for Jo's Just Add Antlers theme at Christmas Kickstart and really though I had added to a post and entered, on checking clearly not, so better late than never. The pine branch is AALL and Create and all other stamps are Lavinia, Versafine Clair inks and Pan Pastels for the shading. Run Rudolph is the song title at Christmas Cards All Year Round, my Reindeer is a rather serious fellow but hope he fits. Aud Sentiments option is Christmas/Glitter and sentiment, the berries are sparkly as is the snow on the trees.

Jay's are so pretty but very shy, we know we've had them living in a hedgerow for years but rarely see them. But the other day parents and juveniles were all out feeding on the carpet of acorns under the big Oak, I wasn't quick enough to get a photo of all together but did manage some individually (taken through the kitchen window on phone so not that clear).

A good number of Swans spend Summer on the Fen drains and this time of year gather before heading up to Welney Wash where they Winter. The first picture a distant shot just up the Drove and the second another flock on a field in front of the house.

Winter's Butterfly

Hello all, seems I prepared the challenge post and totally forgot one for my own blog, so for speed I've grabbed the content from that with just a few additions. Our mid month inspiration at Tag-Along (and ATC's) challenge follows Pinky's 'Add some Texture' theme which also has the usual Anything Goes option.

We want to let you know about a change which is that in future Bookmarks will also be accepted as entries. We often see them entered and most look so similar to Tags that going forward we will welcome them as entries.

My tag above has lots of stencilled sparkly textural snowflakes but the sparkle just doesn't show up in the photo I'm afraid. The Butterflies are A&C and the sentiment many years old, no idea of the make as the writing on the wood has worn off. Just us Girls has Winter as it's word, so linking up there and also Word Power with the focal sentiment.

My ATC has a inky background and texture paste brickwork, some TL die cut flowers and the little couple of sweeties are TH ephemera, don't you just love his suite? Would like to enter the above at Creative Artiste Mixed Media and as there are flowers, Ellies current Garden Party.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Peace and Joy

Good morning to you all, a new challenge at Allsorts where Christine has selected the theme of Christmas Cards along with the usual Anything Goes option. We have a selection of stamps and dies as prizes.

My scene above uses Lavinia stamps, Briana looking up at one the Small Robins sitting in the falling snow atop Street Light. In the background Fir Tree repeat stamped and Winter Berries in the foreground. The word Peace from Seasonal Words. I would like to enter Creative Knockouts Time to be Merry and Holly and Ivy, also Christmas Card Throwdown has a colour palette which I think this fits.

This one uses the new Fealight Chronicles release from Lavinia along with a few older stamps to build the scene and an entry to this months Snow Flurry challenge. Would like to enter this one at A Place to Start and Craft Rocket Christmas/Winter at Unicorn challenge.

Finally, a last minute dash to the Snippets Playground with the above ATC which I intended using during October and actually made several weeks ago specifically, then with all the medical activity it got forgotten. Snippets to stamp and cut out the leaves, sentiment and Butterfly which has a coat of crackle glaze although not very clear on my photo. I would like to link up to Creative Artiste Mixed Media.

Winter Robins and Mice

First my thanks for all your kind messages, nothing new to report as tests ongoing, being greedy having four autoimmune conditions it's a bit of a complex cocktail. I'm hoping I might feel up to some proper crafting and blogging very soon. 

Today sees new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where we seem to have Christmas as the theme at both!  Prizes from Stamp Addicts at SS and an assortment of Christmas themed stamps and dies at WLS.

Above a mixture of Lavinia and AALL and Create stamps featuring Bobby and Jemima, the Robins that seem to be favourites with lots of us, entering at Peace on Earth ad Jingle Bells (snow) November challenges.

Using several stamps from the new Fealight Chronicles release, my one finished card of the week - along with a full waste bin. Linking to Country Christmas at Heartsquest challenge and think the little 'Meece" will fit in at Crafty Animals and Critter Crazy.

Another Christmas wreath I'm afraid, this one pre spin tool so not quite as symmetrical as I might like, all stamps are Lavinia and Versafine Clair inks. Girlz Creative have a new challenge which is always Christmas and it's the same theme at CRAFT.

Finally, today is reveal day for the October Card Chain Challenge, this is the card I sent to Wendy in Ireland following the colour option, Fairy, Trees and Glitter. Sparkles challenge has an Autumn theme as does Four Seasons and at Dragonfly Dreams the November theme is Feminie and another for the Autumnal palette at Colour Dare.

Tags and Stags

As explained the other day, short scheduled posts, this one for the start of new challenges at Tag-Along (and ATC's) where Pinky would like to see some texture, Moving Along With The Times with a Winter Wonderland theme and by default I'd agreed to help out at Love to Craft and had a card made ready for the A/G theme.

My tag uses TH ephemera, AALL and Create flowers and Butterfly, texture paste and harlequin stencil which is stamped over with text. I would like to enter at the Outlawz Card Free Zone, Creative Artiste mixed media, Colour Dare with shades of orange and Heartsquest shapes cards and tags.

The Penguins are A&C, stamped, cut out and just a little colour, inked background with sparkle texture paste snowflakes stencilled. I've just been alerted that ATC's Around the World would like to see Penguins!

My MAWTT share uses a mixture of stamps from Penny Black, Lavinia and my own Christmas Season stamp set, soft ink blending for the background and lots of sparkly snow.

Finally, for Love to Craft a festive wreath using Lavinia stamps and stencil. The 12 Months of Christmas has a new challenge, this is for the A/G option.

Christmas Mouse

Hello everyone, as some know I've been struggling with a few new heath issues recently which are being investigated, as a result my mojo has been MIA for a while. So I feel the need to take a craft break for a week or two. 

I've scheduled several posts but like this one most are a tad light on content as my time on the computer has been limited so please forgive if I missed/miss one or two posts.

The new Faelight Chronicles have been sitting on my desk for a while but because of several hospital visits they remained un-inked, but as I was awake at silly o'clock this morning made myself sit down and stamp. Above the result, not really satisfied but I didn't want to miss Rudolph Days.