In the meadow and more blossoms

April seems to be whizzing by as we find ourselves at the mid month point of our April challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where themes are Spring and Inspired by Nature. Prizes on offer are Lavinia stamps, a Gina K gift voucher and stamp set.

Above is a new make, but most popping up lately are from my files which are now running low. It's a little Nature scene using the new Meadowbrook Tales collection from Lavinia and two of the new Versafine Clair ink colours which are so bright and vibrant. I've picked out 'Tree and Earth" at Time Out at Little Red Wagon the theme is Inspired by a Song - Bright Eyes (tissue at the ready) and Z for Zoology at Alphabet Challenge.

An old make, base shape using A&C Roadway Vistas stamped with Berry Bliss and Spotted Wings, the sentiment cut into two is from my Believe stamp set.

Christmas Kickstart's theme is Brimming with Style, they would like to see things in hats, so another found hidden in my files from back in the Winter using one of my favourite Fairies Lavinia's Eve sporting a stripy hat to match her sparkly wings. All stamps Lavinia. Hat's are also the theme at ABC Christmas and the teal and yellow popped out at me from the photo at Inspiration Station

Lots of green appearing in the gardens this weeks, first leaves are beginning to open on the largest Horse Chestnut which is a real beauty, one of a good number of forest trees we planted when we moved to this house about forty years ago. The Quince tree is in full blossom, as is one of several Choisya's, a beautiful triple Tulip in our little Poppy's garden and finally the first Lilac to bloom.

Tag-Along mid month blossoms

We've reached the mid way point of our Blossoms, Butterflies and Birds theme at Tag-Along (and ATC's) challenge. 

My tag above uses Amazon dies for the flowers inked in the middle, crackle paste harlequins rubbed over with some gold gilding, A&C birdie and background stamping finished with a Dragonfly and fibres. There's a new challenge at the Snippets Playground so think this might fit in there as birdie and flowers all cut from snippets (no picture though). Also sharing at Try it on Tuesday who want backgrounds.

Stencilled crackle paste again for my ATC, A&C Butterflies and TRR/Highlight birdie and blossoms, I'm slowly working my way though a drawer full of pre-prepared Highlight goodies from my DT days.

A final tag which fits the theme with Lavinia English Bluebell stamped with Wisteria Purple one of the gorgeous new Clair colours and Ashfoot resting among them gazing at the Dragonfly. The Little Things theme is Rainbows, Sun and Clouds so hopefully fits there.

There's still two weeks left for this months challenge so do come and join us, if you already have how about sharing another, we accept four per entrant and theres a super prize to be won.

In the Garden

Morning everyone, we have a new challenge at Allsorts and our theme is In the Garden which has been selected by Gail. Our lucky winners will receive Lavinia stamps.

My card below is from my folder from last year, but I wanted to attempt another using the new Lavinia Meadowbrook Tales collection. Crafting remains very slow with only one fully functioning arm but I can do a little stamping using my TH platform, so with a ready cut and inked base and panel it was just a matter of stamping and adding some colour. Popping to Ellies Ellies garden party 14 and Sweet Stampin’ Favourite colours, I love most colours but seem to use purple and pinks a lot. 

A double tag card with lots of magic going on using stamps from one of last years Lavinia collections, Herbalum Ben, Fairy Foragers, Herb Garden, Wheelbarrow, Bench, Seasonal Tree, Vine Branch, Dill and Shrooms, all stamped onto a background which I'm pretty sure is Pan Pastels. Adding to Crafty Gals Spring challenge.

Everything is inspired by Nature

Morning all, thankfully much of this post was scheduled so just added a few more words. We have new challenges starting today at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where themes are very seasonal, Spring and Inspired by Nature. Prizes on offer are Lavinia stamps, a Gina K gift voucher and A&C stamp set.

Above and below using Lavinia's new Meadowbrook Tales collection which I've been lucky to work with, the bundle sold out very quickly but stamps still available individually. A triptych gatefold card using a 'serving dish template', inky background applied with acetate, my preferred technique, a few older worker stamps to build up the scene and colouring using Zig pens. Adding to the Spring/Easter themes at Fab and Funky and Sweet Stampin' and Crafty Animals.

For this one a Gelli Plate background found ready prepared, Tree stamped into the oval, Lavinia Butterflies (not in the collection), Shrooms and Hares coloured with pencils and grounded with Pastels. Entering at Daisy Chain No DP's theme and Beautiful Butterflies at Lets Create and Craft.

Luckily this for SS was made weeks ago, and details already added to the post. A 3D wildlife scene using a whole host of Lavina stamps, Badger 1 and 2, Woodland Hare, Garden Poppies, Wild Summer Flower, Leaf Spray along with a good number of worker stamps. I took an A4 sheet of Multifarious, scored vertically in two places, cut diagonally about a third of the way down, stamped the animals and shrooms on the smaller piece, cut around the tops and built up the foliage around them. After creating a sky stamped the flowers and grasses and raised the smaller section with foam tape. Adding this one at The Card Concept and Cards 4 Galz Spring Flowers, the Oriental Poppies are budding up so won't be long, White Out at Shopping Our Stash and Tic Tac Toe using Spring, Colouring Technique (direct to stamp) and Fun Fold.

One for the Snippets Playground, dies from Amazon, Lisa Horton quilted EF, Lavinia word stickers and Liquid pearls. Snippets below and very frugally for me, I cut the flowers from the middle of the larger mat before shading the edges with DI's. Alphabet Challenge's theme is Y for Yellow and Crafty Calendar Dies and Punches.

A few more photos of what's springing into life in the gardens.

Spiraea Arguta Bridal Wreath, now quite a substantial shrub.

Spiraea cantoniensis

Anemone coronaria 'Harmony Orchid (just realised my nails match!)

Clematis armandii.

You have been so kind with your words of support regarding the surgery mentioned in my past last weekend so thought I best give an update. I saw my Neurologist in Cambridge a few days ago and managed to scheduled an appointment with my Pain Consultant on Friday. Once I have the thoughts of them both I will make a final decision on the surgery rather than launching headlong into it later this month as the Orthopaedic consultant would like.

Blossoms, Butterflies and Birds

Morning everyone, April has arrived which means we have new challenges at Tag-Along (and ATC's) and MAWTT and it just so happens it's my theme choices at both. I've gone with Blossoms, Butterflies and Birds at the first and Anything Spring at the second, I know, no surprises with either!

Our Tag-Along (and ATC's) prize comes from AALL and Create so for my tag above I've used one of the brand new stamps I've been lucky to work with, this one is called Drawing in Air and the base tag is Tag it Yourself. The image was stamped, coloured with Zig pens and some stencilling around the image, some scrim, the word is from one of my new stamp sets being released next month and the birdie also A&C. Linking to Pearly Sparkles something old, something new, the flowers are new the birdie very old and anything but a card at The Outlawz.

A set of ATC's using A&C Wildflower, some background stamping, butterflies and birdies and a border stamp with is Stampers Anonymous. Three ATC's for Sweet Little Things at Dream Factory.

Two for MAWTT, above a Spring wreath using lots of Lavinia stamps and a little scene in the middle with Bunnies. Below a tub of Tulips which are all TRR, a stamped and stencilled background and little Robin. Linking to Pammie's Inky Pinkies Spring, Crafting Challenge Favourite Colours, it's fresh colours of Spring, Four Seasons Anything Spring and Bunnies for Critter Crazy.

I do hope you will come and join in our challenges this month.

It's Springtime at Allsorts

Morning everyone, over at Allsorts we have a new challenge where it's my turn to choose the theme and there could only be one, It's Springtime', my favourite season. We have two beautiful Penny Black Stamps to give away from Buddly Crafts.

A shortish post again (explanation below) and a card I made weeks ago, an adaptation of a vertical three panel design on Pinterest. Masked four panels, brushed ink in different colours and with the masking still in place stamped Penny Black Daffodil Dance, Dazzle, At Grace and Gentle Whisper, inked direct to stamp using Ecoline pens and A&C word. Adding at Colour Dare 696, Spring at Creative Knockouts and Sweet Stampin', finally Spring Flowers at Card Concept.

Now the new Meadowbrook Tales collections from Lavinia which is gorgeous. But confess the above was a struggle (full bin) and far from happy with it. The stamps have been sitting on my desk and promised I would get at least one made for today, but with one arm dysfunctional stamping's difficult. Adding to Four legged friends at Fab 'n Funky and Star Stampz, Spring at Try it on Tuesday.

It's also Rudolph Day's time so a simple design using a Gelli Plate background, the Spin tool, Versafine Clair and Lavinia stamps, glitter and a white gel pen. I've loads of background prepared so for now the spin tool may be my best best friend as it's easier than conventional stamping.

Last week I mentioned referral for an MRI, it happened quickly followed by an Orthopedic consultant who told me I need surgery to pin my upper spine. It's a biggie, long recovery time and high infection risk for the immune compromised so something I need to have a really long hard think about. For weeks crafting has been difficult due to arm pain and spasms so gripping with my left hand's an issue, likewise typing, hence short posts and comments on your blogs, I'll still be doing it all, it's what keeps me going but may be limited in content. 

But on a positive note Spring does seem to have arrived, the clocks go forward tonight so lighter evenings to watch the flora and wildlife in the garden and I do hope Spring will inspire you to join in my new theme at Allsorts.

A snippet and the garden bursting into life

Morning to you all, at last the garden is showing clear signs of Spring and I felt well enough to take the camera out for a few photos in the sun. I had my spinal procedure Thursday, but a problem was picked up with my shoulder so referred for an MRI.

Not too much craft but did managed to create something for the Snippets Playground, it's a tag so serves as a timely reminder of our Tag-Along (and ATC's) challenge which still has just over a week to go.

I've utilised lots of odds and sods which have been sitting about from other projects so afraid no photo. The tag base was made from an offcut when I was machining around another project, the little Spellbinder trellis in the background already prepared, the two flowers (Amazon die) were previously coloured and assembled and little sentiment tag one of several I cut from a snippet to be used as and when. The sentiment is a sticker, my fav quote from Scarlet in GWTW. Linking to the Spring themes at Creative Knockouts, The Card Concept, Crafty Calendar and Little Red Wagon.

Now my photos and first up our girls ready to go on our wander, at the front Rosa just five and rescue puppy Fleur now five months, some will remember the emaciated nine week old lab we took on via our Vet, she's doing so well, up to weight and full of energy. I bought the standard Holly bush next to her in December after we lost Holly, but not yet had the heart to remove the Christmas ribbons.

Our paddock bunnies are producing already, these are the first out of the burrow to leave their Mum, three of them about three weeks old, always seems so young to be going solo. Very distant shot as they are right up the top hedgerow and very timid so taken from indoors.

Our beautiful resident cock Pheasant who lives in the garden, he arrived during a shoot in the Autumn and hasn't left, just as well as sadly some of our local farmers seem to forget the season ended on 31st January. Hubby took these yesterday out of the kitchen window, he's pretty tame and comes right up to the house to see what's on offer.

Primulas have been beautiful this year,

An early Viburnum Tinus (and the back end of a Lab)

Just coming into bloom and smells divine, Clematis Armandi below,

Sophora Sun King 

One of the patches of Hellebore, 

Another Viburnum,

To finish The Frenchies (French/Red Legged Partridges) who were under our bedroom window last evening, not a brill photo, was getting dusk and taken on phone so a tad fuzzy. We've had a covey of them for a few years now, it's just coming into their breeding season, the male builds several nests for the female to choose - like their style!

Isn't Spring wonderful.