In the Pink

Morning everyone, time for our new challenge at Tag-Along (and ATC's) where Pinky has selected the theme 'Add some Pink'. 

Pink's a colour I use often so an easy ask and I have a tag, bookmark and ATC. My tag above uses Visible Image Colourful Life stamped onto a brayered background, stitching is a Stampers Anonymous set, base tag is A&C. Added a sticker sentiment and tassel, I found a bag of them in a tidy up from my days as a DT for Stamp Addicts, there's another below!

My bookmark came about by accident when a card I was making didn't go quite to plan so I salvaged a panel to create the bookmark. It's Lisa Horton Rambling Woodgrain Rose embossing folder and layering stencil set.

An ATC utilising yet more from the TRR drawer, this time Daisies, an offcut of honeycomb left from another project, some lace and a metal Dragonfly which I heat embossed with pink EP to carry the colour.

Flora and Fauna

Morning all, a quick post with a couple of shares. First up one for the Snippets Playground, it's actually a new card, took me a couple of days but reasonably happy with it, the die cuttings the easy part, the stampings the challenge at the moment.

A triptych using a new die set from Maximum crafts, I'm a real sucker for arch shaped cards so when Lynn used this one I had to have it. It's smaller than the other's I have so perfect to use up offcuts. The stamps used are Lavinia Sunflower, Honeysuckle and Chinese Lanterns, coloured with Zig pens and Lavinia sticker sentiments. Also linking to Aud Sentiments Spring/sentiment, Beautiful Blossoms ,Ellies Garden Party and Art Nudge 426A.

Here's my snippets, was nice to use up some of the panels left after cutting card blanks from A3 card (hubby's job currently).

There's a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday with the theme of Numbers, I found the perfect card hidden away in my A&C folder using one of their DL stamps, sadly now discontinued, I made this sometime last year but un-blogged.

Edges are just DI's and water and splodged on with acetate, coloured the image with the same DI's, a few added numbers and letters which are also A&C as is the little Mouse and words, the Butterfly stamped and coloured a second time to decoupage and matching envie. Adding to Creative Aunts Circles theme and Neglected Stuff - old discontinued stamp, Hand Stamped Sentiments has a colour palette, it's not clear if you need to use all three, I've got rust and green but not blue, so please delete if not eligible. 

Shaped cards and yet more blossoms

Morning to you all, a new challenge at Allsorts where Christine has selected the theme of shapes cards, so anything but square. The prizes this time round are AALL and Create goodies.

Scheduled as usual as all going to plan we will be in the Cotswolds for the wedding of another Granddaughter, Annabel, she loved the location so entire family heading off miles across the UK!!

I was lucky to get early access to the March A&C release and love the funky fashion icons designed by Soizic, this one Sirens of Spring paired with Drawing in Air. An old triptych die, coloured with Zig pens, the middle panel a really old wood mounted PB stamp How to Fly. This was a card for a crafty friend who had a special Birthday this week. Entering this one as Bright at As you like it and Flowers for Girlz Rebel.

This an older make, crafting remains slow one armed, will update shortly but declined surgery this week (wedding so not an option!). Die base is A&C Heart Marks the Spot, a stencilled background in fresh yellows and the image (which hubby say's is a "very sad" one) is Andy Skinner I'll be your Umbrella, the sentiment comes from the same set. Just us girls would like Stencils and Crafters Cafe no squares.

I'll leave you with a few of this weeks garden photos, first the Cowslips in the far paddock, it's never grazed until they have flowered. They are special to me as I transplanted from one of Dad's fields where I used to pick them as a child, they are slow to establish but spread a bit more each year and now a few patches of them scattered about.

One more as it's 25th of the month which means a new Rudolph Days challenge. It's a very simple one from my files using TH dies and Lisa Horton embossing folder.

Clematis Montana and an early flowering Horse Chestnut, this one close to the Cowslips. Those on the tree I shared last week are a week or so behind this one.

Can you spot the rear end of a Lab above?

Sorry to be repetitive but I do so love Spring.

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.