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 scim, the word is from one of my new stamp sets being released next month and the birdie also A&C.

A set of ATC's using A&C Wildflower, some background stamping, butterflies and birdies and a border stamp with is Stampers Anonymous.

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.

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.

Fox on the prowl

Morning everyone, I have my shares for our mid month posts at Stamping Sensations and We Love Stamping where our themes are Spring and Wildlife. 

I'm now 'in the clear', although frustrated it seems very slow going as constantly exhausted, but as my boys keep telling me it stopped them in the tracks and they are young and fit, so I'm expecting too much too soon!

But yesterday I did manage a couple of makes with gorgeous new A&C and Lavinia releases so that must be progress and fingers crossed I'm having the re-scheduled spinal procedure tomorrow assuming they think I'm fit enough, then the head/shoulder injections re-scheduled end of month.

My WLS make uses AALL and Create In the Wild, a set I just love, it's available from A&C and stockists. A stencilled background, the Fox stamped and coloured, words and letters also A&C as are the twigs in the corners. Taking my Mr Fox to AAA Cards Animal theme.

A&C stamps and dies again for my SS make, the base card is Heart Marks the Spot cut twice and joined at the top so it stands up as a tent card, the Tulips from Petal Pop stamp set were heat embossed with detail clear then simply coloured and some watered down shading, twine and word from same set. Entering Try it on Tuesday has a Spring theme as does Crafty Calendar, Little Red Wagon and Sunday Stampers and it's Beautiful Blooms at Simon Say's Monday.

There's still two whole weeks to join in at both, some lovely entries so far and remember you can join in three times.

Wings

Another short post, I now believe everything I've ever read about this virus! Lynne chose our new Allsorts theme of Things with Wings, prizes are a $30 Taylored Expressions voucher and A4 stamp set.

Past makes, no crafting for a while and my folders are starting to look bare, a background brayered with Versafine Clair, scored and stencilled, then Indra from Lavinia stamped and coloured with Zig pens, and Let your Spirit. Just add Ink have the theme Just add Wings.

Lavinia stamps again, mostly mini stamps to create a floral wreath, Fairy Couple in the centre and some Butterflies stamped, coloured and cut out and a coat of crackle glaze for texture. Linking to CRAFT Spring theme and the Spring Flowers at The Card Concept and Feminine at and Feminine at Try it on Tuesday.

It's also mid way time at Tag-Along (and ATC's) challenge where we are following Lynn's Spring Flowers theme. Base tag is from A&C, a simple background, literally dragged the edge of two different coloured Oxides across, then stamped the blossoms, Bunny and Dandelions which are all Lavinia. Dandelion 's are wild so adding to Alphabet Challenge.  

A few more Two Red Robin Highlight Crafts Daffodils, these were flower of the month way back and came in an assortment of sizes, the two little Hares are AALL and Create.

Spring Garden Party

Morning, apologies it's an extremely short post and for lack of visits. As mentioned I was due into hospital for treatment but that didn't happen as the day before, six years of avoiding Covid came to an end! Had all the jabs offered over the years and as I'm immune suppressed referred immediately to hospital and given antiviral meds, but still not feeling my best.

So thankful both these cards were made as I was thrilled to be invited to be a GDT at Ellies' new Garden Party. Spring is my favourite season so fresh yellows and greens and a Lisa Horton set above. 

This one created on the Sixxiz Spin Tool, AALL and Create flowers and ferns with some given a brush with mica powder whilst ink still wet to get a softer look.

Ellies Garden Parts runs until 12th April so do hope you will join in.

Dandelion meadow

I'm running a little late with this post, I usually schedule well ahead but it didn't happen with this one, so a lot packed in again, explanation further down. 

Becca from Heartsquest shaped cards and tags invited me to be a Guest Designer this months and above is what I sent her, I made it a few weeks ago and take no credit for the design, it's Pinky who came up with the idea and I'm not alone in casing the design as I've seen one or two popping up.

It's two tags same size, glued together with a gap left to hold the small tag. All stamps are Lavinia stamped with Versafine Clair ink and some coordinating threads. There's another photo further down with the second  tag concealed. Entering at A Place to Start who want No Squares and it's all about making backgrounds at Simon Say's Monday.

I managed one new make for the Snippets Playground, fairly simple die cut flowers with just a hint of ink brushed onto the centres, stamens coloured with Versamark and Mica. The quilted panel a Lisa Horton EF which took ages to track down after seeing a team mate use it. The edges are brushed with the same ink to carry the colour and my snippet photo one I warned would be popping up again, these flowers are made in two parts, the quilted panel was the cut out aperture from another card. Also linking to Die Cut Divas Spring theme and the same at .

The second photo of my tag at the top of the post.

There's a new Christmas Kicksrart challenge with the theme In the Woods and I had the perfect card sitting in a folder from late last year, Lavinia stamps again, seems I do use them rather a lot! The Fairy Catkin stamp is a real favourite, stamped twice to create a semi wreath, pine and Stag and some simple shading to ground it all and of course glitter snow. The letters of the new Christmas Crafts are E&F, I've got Evergreen Trees and Foliage in the form of catkins and the theme is Green at Colourful Options and it's the same at If You Give a Crafter a Cookie and also Fab and Funky.

I'm also rather late sharing my Card Chain Challenge card below which I sent to Daja in Germany, Lavinia stamps, I followed the colour palette and stamping options set this month. I received one from Joanne which I absolutely loved with the fun Cow which you can see on her blog here. My three are Fantasy, Flowers and Bright Colours for Pick 3 challenge.

Explanation of late post and lack of crafting, I'm on pretty strong morphine patches and other meds which help, but still have period of severe pain rendering me useless as it affects both sides thanks to MS, right back/leg, left shoulder/arm. Different hospitals isn't ideal, specialist pain clinic at Stamford and Neurology Cambridge. Spinal procedure early January cancelled last minute (after I arrived for 8am admission, it's an hour and a half away so wasn't impressed) as they had no theatre nurses, now re-scheduled later this month and hopefully having neck and head injections tomorrow in Cambridge for migraine and Brachial Neuralgia.

I'll leave you with some photos of last nights full moon, I have a fascination for them and can never resist if the sky is clear enough, it' called the Worm Moon, not the most romantic of names.