A little mixed media, Rudolph, A Butterfly, Snippets and winners

Good morning to you all, it's time for our new challenge at Allsorts and Helene would like to see 'Metal and/or Charms' on our work. Our sponsor this week is Tattered Lace. Apols in advance this is a rather long post...........................you will see why further down.

But before I move on to today's shares I would like to say a huge thank you for yout continued visits and kind words of encouragement. Since I posted here by way of explanation for my lack of blogland visits things have not seen much of an improvement and I will shortly be going back into hospital, hopefully only for a short time. Meantime I do a little crafting to keep up with DT commitments which keeps my mind focused, as with so many of us crafting is a Godsend.

So onto today's shares, I don't enter challenges as a normality but there are three I do try and make an effort to join in with, Snippets Playground, Rudolph Day's and the Butterfly Challenge and I have managed to include all three in this post. Having scheduled this post ready I now have to remember to do the links, won't be the first time I have forgotten to do that.

Starting with the top creation which started life as a chipboard heart which I painted with white gesso and then fixed a Timmy clock and some lace edged burlap followed by acrylic paints which I just added randomly. Next I fixed an assortment of odds and sods, buttons, flowers, a key and butterflies, some of which are metal to fit in with Helen's theme.

Next a stencil and paste to add more interest and then more painting and gilding wax to bring out the various elements and finally a TL sentiment. Such fun to make and messy fingers as well, what more could a girl ask !! As I used odds and ends of card for the sentiment and clock I am popping over to the Playground with this one, not seen Parsnip for ages so looking forward to a catch up with him.

It's does seem like ages since I joined in Mrs A's Butterfly Challenge but this time round I was determined to make the effort and came up with the above to fit the theme of Glossy Accents and/or Slate Blue with your Butterfly. Slate blue seems a hard one to define and looks lighter in my photo than it does in real life. I used a favourite Penny Black stamp called light touch inking the stamp with distress markers and spritzing with water before stamping onto Fabriano watercolour card. I did a bit of specking around the image and added glossy accents to the Butterfly although it's hard to see on the photo but promise they are there.

And today sees a new Rudolph Day's challenge over at Mo's and again I am all ready in advance...........can't see it lasting all year mind you. It's a TL sample using one of the Delicate Detail dies which cut the pattern to stay within the cardstock, after cutting I light penciled the design through the aperture and coloured the backing with Distress Crayons and added a TL sentiment to the front. It did occur to me writing this up that there is no stamping, so if that disqualifies my entry will totally understand Mo and won't be in the least offended.

Now for the winner.............well winners and you will see why in a moment.........from my blog of our Allsorts giveaways last week.

"What do you reckon Holly, are you going in or shall I ?"

I decided to do a 'Random Dog' draw just for fun, we have three, Daisy and Holly the Labs and Poppy the Parsons Jack Russel, when I started the process only the labs were interested.

However, Poppy then decided  to dive in, so quickly that I only got a photo once she had the  piece of paper and set about destroying it.

"Destroy"

Then the Labs went for it after relocating the bowl half way across the room.................

And this is the end result...................

As they all seemed so pleased with themselves giving me something from the bowl of 78 names that I decided there had to be three winners, the first out was Poppy's offering......the tatty eaten piece.......and had Lesley's name on it so she will receive the Distress Crayons. The Labs presented me with Susie and Marianne so I will be sending something to you as well, I'm not sure what yet so it will be a surprise. Please all three mail me with your full names and postal addresses.

Have a lovely weekend and please do find a moment to pop over to the challenge blog for lots of inspiration from my teamies.