Over the Rainbow

I'll be totally honest and tell you I was in two minds about posting today or even carrying on crafting, try as much as I have to be philosophical, everything that is going on in the World defies all that in which we believe. Hundreds of thousands of poor souls dying alone, their devastated families left to deal with nightmares they may never overcome and not one of us is exempt from the reality of there but the Grace of God. Yet still there are those selfish enough to ignore all we are instructed to do, carry on as normal and in so doing put others at risk.

Over the past three weeks I've not crafted and struggled to even comment on your blogs, not because I don't want to, more that I have this sense of guilt that it's just not right to indulge in something enjoyable and from which I take pleasure. For many, many years I've been active in the community one way or another, as a Councillor, School Governor and through work, with all the first priority has been to help others overcome their problems and find solutions for them to help support their quality of life. But at present non of this is possible, here am I reliant of food and medication deliveries which seems wrong and a feeling of total impotence that all of what is happening is out of our control, against that scenario every day 'normal' activities just seem so futile.

So why did I do this post after being in two minds, well my friend Donna in Florida said to me yesterday that visiting friends in blogland may well help them during these difficult times and I should carry on for that reason if no other. And she is of course totally right,  indeed I have read that craft is helping so many through these turbulent times, so thank you Donna for the reality check (much needed kick in the bum) as sometimes it doesn't require a phone call or letter from someone in need of help.

So new challenges at Stamping Sensations and Penny Black and More where our themes are 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' and 'Anything Goes'. As always there are wonderful prizes to be won at both. 

As with yesterday's post my shares were created weeks ago, the background of the top card was made by dabbing oxides onto a piece of acetate roughly following the sequence of a rainbow, spritzed with water and place a piece of card and rubbing the back gently to release the colour. I then stamped the beautiful Blueprint Freesia which was one of the stamps launched by CB Lesley a couple of months ago, stamped the flowers a second time to decoupage and sponged a sun and some spots. The sentiment is also from one of the blueprint sets.

This Penny Black stamp called Together was a release last year but hasn't seen too much ink as yet so I thought I would put that right, inking it with Distress Markers and stamping onto a Gelli Plate background, a lovely inspirational sentiment from the set called Just Beleive and some pearls.

And some Poppies, these are the lovely Spontaneous Joy, again inked with Distress Markers, some subtle background stencilling and a shrink plastic Butterfly.

And another reminder that my friends John and Rosie of Limetree Crafts who many of you know from shows around the Country now have an on line shop so you can still but their paper products whilst the Country is on lockdown.

 

Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog.

Stampendous P107

Morning Peeps, it's Saturday and time for a new challenge at Allsorts, it's a two week challenge to take us over the Easter period, I would normally say holiday period but this year nothing is normal and Easter will not be the same. No option to go to Church, normally there would be the stripping of the Alter on Maundy Thursday, the Good Friday service and then the service of celebration on Sunday. Such sad times in so many ways, not least the horrendous death toll across the whole World.

Kath's is our host and her these is 'Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue', but you will need to check out her post to know exactly what she is hoping to see. This weeks winner will receive some lovely Woodware stamps from Craft Stash.

I'm afraid my mojo remains is self isolation and I'm shamed to admit I've created nothing in two weeks, I did have a go last week but it all ended up in the bin. I have however spent hours washing woodwork, door handles and so on, it's a daily ritual and hubby is convinced the whole house will need repainting as I'll wash away all the pain.

So my shares today were all made some weeks ago, my top card a bit of Fairy indulgence using some new Lavinia stamps along with some older ones, and an oxide background.

And it stands to reason that the contenders for 'Old' were Penny Black or Stampendous P107, or a combination as both are some of my oldest stamps and Agapanthus Cluster just happens to be my all time favourite. Those who have ever attended one of my workshops will be familiar with this stamp as it features regularly. Both of mine (yes I have two) are really old wood mounted ones, but I believe it is now available unmounted.

So I blew watery Brusho's down the page, then simply stamped the Agapanthus several times, some second generation and then stamped the PB sentiment, finally some stencilling across the top.

Stay safe and well everyone.

 

Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog.

Rather a lot of Poppies

Today it's my turn to post over at the Chocolate Baroque blog sharing my cards from the recent Hochnda shows, it's a picture heavy post as all details of what I did and stamps etc., used can be found here.........and yes, there's quite a lot of Poppies going on.

I also wanted to put in a word on behalf of my friends John and Rosie, those of you who are regulars at the shows around the Country will be familiar with their company Limetree Crafts and their great value card and paper packs. As all craft shows in the foreseeable future have been cancelled you can now get their great value products on line here. In these difficult times we all need to help one another so I hope you will pop over to visit them.

Stay safe everyone.

Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog.

Butterfly Tree and Calm Waters

Well after all my excitement yesterday reserving a Tesco delivery slot it went a bit pear shaped at Boots, after almost three hours in the virtual queue, I was invited into the website, placed my order, paid and then got a message there were unable to process any more orders. I know I'm not alone as we are all experiencing these frustrations, but grief does it test the patience.

Before I move onto Allsorts, I wanted to invite you to be a Social Butterfly and extend the wings of friendship among the crafting community by joining Lesley of Chocolate Baroque in her daily 1.30pm Butterfly Tree Facebook Live chats. Anyone who knows me is aware I don't do Facebook, I do have a Facebook page somewhere but it's just a presence and I'm never active on it. However I felt I needed to add my support and much to my surprise managed to load the above card onto their new page here.

Now moving onto Allsorts where Wendy is this weeks host and she would like to see creations suitable for 'Boys and Men. We have a lovely A4 stamp set from Rare Earth for this weeks lucky winner.  

My card is a Chocolate Baroque share for Hochanda TV, using acetate to create the reflection, DI's and Pan Pastels for the background and really a pretty simple card which I though would work for a man.

Stay safe and well.

 

Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog.

The blue lorry..........

Whoever thought my morning would start with such excitement, I have a Tesco delivery slot for next Friday 😃😃😃

Yet another migraine woke me at 5am, so got up checked my mails and there was one from Tesco saying they were restricting the number of items in a shop to 80, so that prompted me to go look to see if there were any slots, whoo hoo there were on 3rd and 4th April, nabbed one, sent a text to daughter and she got one as well. Five minutes later all gone. Now I'm at Boots, apparently no 43,516 in the queue and should be into the system in an estimated two hours. Even if I felt like crafting which I'm afraid I just don't as my mojo is far away, I wouldn't have time with all this internet activity.

And yesterday an Angel delivered my prescriptions, surgery unable to help, chemist the same then someone told me our village timebank team had become NHS volunteers, within two hours they were on my doorstep and popped into our contactless delivery box which hubby sorted last week............have to say these delivery drivers are doing a sterling job in such difficult circumstances.

How things change, a month ago a Tesco deliver slot would have been the last thing to excite me let alone lead me to do a blog post. Have a good day everyone, hard frost here but looks like the sun will shine again.

 

Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog.

Have a crafty chat

Just a really quick post Peeps, if you are feeling lost, confused and isolated as so many of us are right now, me included, you can join Lesley here from Chocolate Baroque for a Facebook live crafty chat at 2pm this afternoon. There will be more in the future and I will let you know as and when.

 

 Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog.

More from the Serengeti

Morning Peeps, I hope everyone is staying safe and well, such difficult times for everyone in the World. I'm house bound, a text from my GP said I'm vulnerable health wise so advised to self isolate for 12 weeks. 

So have been speaking to eldest daughter each evening on the phone, we can see each other across the courtyard, she's a senior ethics tutor so required to stay in school to teach the children of the key workers. And I was able to see our eldest son on TV the other day when he addressed the Commons Select Committee on how the Police are dealing with things. I guess you call it remote family interaction, the others are keeping in contact by phone as well but of course won't risk visiting this weekend despite it being Mothering Sunday in the UK.

I was pleased to hear some supermarkets were saving delivery slots for such as myself but try getting one, non of those who deliver in our area have a single one for as far as their calendars go which in most cases is three weeks. I know I'm not alone and it's worse in some parts of Europe but it's sobering realising this could go on for months.

Now onto our new challenge at Allsorts where our host is Tracy who would like to see 'Anything in the Animal Kingdom'. Stamp Addicts are our host offering the winner a £15 store voucher.

Stamp Addicts showcases some new Judikins stamps on Hochanda this week, so it's a perfect opportunity to share another of my DT makes for the shows. On the piece at the top I used both the large and shall Giraffes on a monalinth which I gave the acrylic paint and crackle glaze treatment before stamping the images, then stamping some again to decoupage.

And another card featuring Lavinia Hares and a little Fairy, all stamped in Versafine Clair and as I felt the background using Oxides and cling film was a tad dark I used some pale pink EP to emboss and lift the lavender in the foreground and ferns across the top

Take care and as always my thanks for your kind visits and words.

 

Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog.