Garden delights

Saturday morning so that must mean time for a new challenge at Allsorts and this week Lynn had chosen the theme of 'Gardeners Delight' with the chance to win a lovely Stampendous stamp set from Oakwood Direct and craft stencil.

Above we're down in the veg patch with a variety of carrots, think they call them Heritage, sure my Dad would have said what's wrong with the normal orange ones. Anyhows, an Oxide background, the carrot stamp is one of two really large ones on AALL and Create Seeds of Hope, some extra background stamping using Shattered and I just love these two little Rabbits from Miniature's as they seem to be permanent fixtures in most veg gardens.

A second using Ruth Hamilton Design Sunflowers, stencilling in the background, washi tape and one of my own sentiments from my Moments set available at Create and Craft and here.

And as I'm an Oakwood DT I had better share a couple using Stampendous stamps for recent Create and Craft TV shows, this one called Treehouse Post onto a mottled Oxide background which was a mop up piece, the second one is House Mouse Painted Pansies and shock horror I had to do a bit of colouring.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

 

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Peonies, Poppies and a few photos

Morning to you all, we are returning to normal again at Allsorts having carried our themes forward a couple of weeks following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Ellie is our host and would like to see 'Spots and Stripes'. Our lucky winner will receive dies and tickets to Crafting Live at Peterborough on 22/23 October from Highlight Crafts. The show promises to be a really good one with a bumper number of exhibitors lined up. 

I have used Vintage Inc Peony and Laced to Perfection from Highlight Crafts, the stamps are available individually or as part of two special offer collections. If you are new to this brand and also Two Red Robins dies, I can promise you that the quality is excellent, as are all things out of the stable of Steph Weightman. 

Those tempted by the stamps or indeed anything on the Highlight website (with exception machinery) you can use my code BRENDA10 to obtain a 10% discount.

This one uses Poppy Perfection from the new Hedgerows collection along with Poppies from earlier collections, link below. The spots are subtle but are there to tie in with this weeks theme. The sentiment is from my Believe stamp set available from Create and Craft or direct here.

Above our eldest son centre surrounded by his Home Office team before the service at the Abbey on Monday. Having been one of those involved in the planning of arrangements in recent years and then when Her Majesty died, he was invited to be part of the Ceremonial Presence at her funeral, something he said was a tremendous honour. They look so smart in their Dress uniforms as indeed did all the UK Services who took part.

And Miss Margo this week in the saddle on Penelope, she's now twelve months old and apparently loving the experience. It's never too young to start!

Penelope seems to be turning out to be a god buy, at only six years old I was sceptical if her schooling was as good as the breeder claimed, but so far she seems pretty bombproof and is showing nicely in hand and picked up a couple of placings the last few weeks.

Have a good weekend and my thanks as aways for your kind visits and words of encouragement.

 

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A few Country scenes

As many of you know we are not having an Allsorts challenge again this week as a mark of respect following the death of our dear Queen and whilst the UK is in an official period of mourning. We will return to normal next Saturday 24th September.

My crafting activity was curtailed this week by an ambulance trip and I'm awaiting seeing a cardiologist, but did managed some samples for Highlight Crafts with new products. Life seems to be throwing constant curve balls right now which is so frustrating but c'est la vie. 

This weekend Highlight Crafts has lots of special offers and member discounts running until 1pm Tuesday, but even if you are not a member you can still use my code BRENDA10 to get 10% off all purchases. But be warned, the collections can be addictive! 

Above and below Christmas cards using elements from A Frosted Eve, A Christmas Eve,  Deer to my Heart and Winter Landscape. The sentiments are from my own new sets available from Create and Craft here and here and Stamp Addicts here.

Last but by no means least and there's more in the pipeline including some using the Poppies in the new Two Red Robins Hedgerows collection. I think of all the collections this just might be my favourite so far, it encompasses fields and wildflowers, since a child I've never been happier than when I'm out in the meadows and paddocks with a horse and dog or two in tow.

The complete set is on offer at the moment and even less if you use my code above, but all of the dies are available individually to enable you to choose your favourites. It's such a clever collection as there are dies coordinating with the background scene, part of the free Reflection download to enable a 3D scene to be created.

Have a peaceful weekend.

 

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Paying respect

As a mark of respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who died yesterday,  there will not be a new Allsorts challenge tomorrow.  

On a personal note, my thoughts are with her family at this very sad time, she is the only Queen and Monarch I have known and her tenacity and enthusiasm for life leaves a void in the lives of so many.

 

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Timeless and a rather special award

Before I move on can I talk about DT's and challenges.......we have DT spaces due to changes in personal circumstances so if you are interested in joining a team please drop me a mail........even if you think you are not up to it you probably are, so lets chat about it. Previous DT experience not necessary and if you are unsure you could try a month or two and see how it goes, we're a flexible and friendly bunch 😊

Today see the start of ur September challenge at We Love Stamping, explanations about this months challenge at Stamping Sensations on the challenge blog and my post on 1st September. Our theme is a nice and easy one of 'Anything Goes' and we have two prizes of Vintage Inc stamps from Highlight Crafts, if your not familiar then I can confirm they are excellent quality and stamp like a dream.

The tag above was made a while ago but never blogged using AALL and Create Clocks and Flowers. An acetate splodged oxide background (I splodge I don't smooch!), the flower, Badger and words from the set stamped onto snippets with the flower coloured and paper pieced. Simples as the Meerkats say!

I am popping to the Snippets Playground to see what's going on, I'm a bit show now I have to use these 'bloomin sticks to get around so can't contemplate the playhouse ladder but hoping if the sun stays out we might be able to have a picnic behind the bike shed.

Before I go and apologies in advance but doing my proud Mum bit, our eldest son Owen received a Commendation this week from the Home Secretary for "Outstanding contribution in the field of Home Affairs". Some know he played a leading role during Covid and continues with State Security matters, so he's a busy boy..... even at 40 plus he's still a 'boy' to me.

Have a lovely Sunday.

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Tweet

Morning to you all, time for our next Allsorts challenge, we are back to weekly again and Dena is inviting us to create for the theme of Anything Goes with the option of School Days. 

Before I move on can I talk about DT's and challenges.......we have DT spaces due to changes in personal circumstances so if you are interested in joining a team please drop me a mail........even if you think you are not up to it you probably are, so lets chat about it. Previous DT experience not necessary and if you are unsure you could try a month or two and see how it goes, we're a flexible and friendly bunch 😊

As I have nothing which really fits the school theme I've opted for Anything Goes and used the AALL and Create birdie from Friendship Florals and Sunflower from Woodland stamped twice and paper pieced on to an inky offcut. An Oxide background, a few worker stamps in the background and washi tape.

Thought I would also share the little wooden plaque I made for Highlight using the new Two Red Robin Gathering of Gatherings dies. 

As always my thanks for your visits and words of encouragement and hope you all have a good weekend.

 

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Window to your Soul

Before I move on can I talk about DT's and challenges.......we have DT spaces due to changes in personal circumstances so if you are interested in joining a team please drop me a mail........even if you think you are not up to it you probably are, so lets chat about it. Previous DT experience not necessary and if you are unsure you could try a month or two and see how it goes, we're a flexible and friendly bunch 😊

Now onto Stamping Sensations and to start with I had better give an explanation of why the September challenge is popping up on a Thursday. Well......at the weekend the August linky went walkabouts and despite all best efforts by us and Inlinkz it was not recoverable. You could say technology gone mad, but it put us in an awkward position as first nobody else could enter and of course with no entries visible we were unable to select our Top 4 and winner.

So the decision was made to start the September challenge a few days early and as well as the planned £25 Stamp Addicts voucher we are adding a couple of extra prizes as well. 

Explanations out of the way, my first share uses new stamps from Stamp Addicts. The official launch on Create and Craft TV is not until October but Sarah has them available on her web site now, I have used Window to your Soul 1 and 2 and Believe, the latter being from one of my own new releases of inspirational quotes, the sets contain a mixture of new and re-styled ones.

The background was created with the Gelli Plate, acrylic paints plus a smidgen of Oxides here and there and a Lavinia stencil. The Butterfly stamped centrally and two eyes and lips two of the images from Window to your Soul.

This is another of my Stamp Addict samples, this one uses Moments (also one of my new stamp sets), Believe, Flower Stencil and Window to your Soul 1 and 2. I cute the three panel triptych die three times to extend the concertina to seven panels, sprayed Oxides onto the top panels and used a mixture of stamping and sparkle paste to create the sections.

I hope you will join us this month.

 

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Down on the Farm

Morning Peeps, no Allsorts post this week as it's a two week challenge so thought I would share a few of my shares showcasing this weeks new releases from Highlight Crafts Two Red Robins and there's a distinct feeling of being out in the meadows and down on the farm

A Gathering of Gatherings launched yesterday and comprises of lots of familiar images but in reduced sizes so they work and coordinate so well with the larger ones. The link goes to the collection which is on offer, but all sets can be purchased individually, theres a 10% discount code on my sidebar if you are tempted. 

My card above uses just a small selection of the dies along with one of my new sentiments from Moments, the official release is on Create and Craft on 19th October but can be purchased now along with my other new set Believe, just click the link.

Here's a couple more and a reminder that tickets for Crafting Live are now available for the October show at Peterborough.

I'll leave you with a photo of some of our girls gathering for their lunchtime gravy bone treats, from right Lily, Holly, Daisy, Rosa, Evie and tucked in the front little Bramble (Granddog), terriers Pixie, and Poppy plus Olive another black lab didn't make the photo. 

Lily and Evie belong to daughter Joy, Olive is staying whilst Zachary and Faith are on honeymoon and Bramble belongs to Azaria, so yesterday there were nine in total, isn't it a good job our garden spans a couple of acres!

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

 

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Roses

Morning Peeps, it's the second of our two week challenges running through August at Allsorts and I am your host with an Anything Goes theme and option of Roses which are beautiful in the gardens at the moment. Two prizes, a House Mouse stamp from Oakwood and three images from Ruth Hamilton Design.

Above a Create and Craft DT piece for Oakwood using an MDF plaque with acrylics, crackle glaze, border stencil with texture paste and crackle glaze (coloured with oxide spray) and Oakwood Bunch of Roses stamps and matching Die plus a couple of their word stamps.

This one using Ruth Hamilton Design Rose Bud printed onto Highlight Crafts papers along with a coordinating one in the background, the word Summer from AALL and Create Seasons and letter 'R' from Grungy Alphabet stamped, punched out and covered with Glossy Accents. I used snippets of green and white card for the panel, sentiment banners and letter 'R' so am popping over the the Playground with this one, taking plenty of strawberries with me for a few daiquiri's. 

And the Roses continue with a tag which was one of my samples for yesterday/today's One Day Special on Create and Craft, the collection comprises of Vintage Inc stamps which I have used in the background, dies with coordinating reflections and the tag I have used is from a new set also in the shows.

As promised a few from the wedding of Zachary and Faith last Sunday, it was a fabulous occasion albeit a tad hot in temperatures of 37deg. Son Alex pictured below was best Man and there were four Bridesmaids but the grounds were vast and having to use my wheelchair meant I wasn't able to get around as much as I might have wanted, so I only managed to get a photo of one of them, this one Azaria along with Jordan....their wedding is next July. The tail suits were dark grey so no idea why they look blue in some of my photos!

Many thanks for your visits and words of encouragement, they always mean so much.

 

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In the garden

Morning everyone, it's mid month inspiration time at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where our themes are 'In my Garden' and Make it Magical. The challenges run until noon on 31st August so still plenty of time to join in for the chance of winning on of the super prizes, an AALL and Create stamp and a stencil and a bundle of stamps from  Fairy Hugs.

Know I promised some wedding photos, but not quite got round to sorting them, hopefully on Saturday. It all went well but in extreme heat, the cake wasn't keen on the weather but just about survived, but hubby was taken unwell there, OK now pleased to say but not really had time to sort photos.

The fruit on some of the trees up in the orchard is about ripe so I thought the card at the top was appropriate. I have used AALL and Create Basic Fruit along with a few background stamps from various A&C sets including Wildflower, I heat embossed the random script with detail gold EP onto a very background with a very light covering of oxides. Plus some washi tape on the top edge and gold foiling here and there, in my photo it's more visible on the matching envie than the card itself.

This one uses a new Vintage Inc stamp set onto an Oxide spray background which also has some texture paste numbers, along with new die sets called Dried Flowers and Sprigs. All are bring released tomorrow on Create and Craft TV as part of the new 'Botanical Bliss' collection which will be available at Highlight Crafts as web exclusives. The pot is an older Two Red Robins die called Chipped and I used one of the Frosted Reflections which gives a more vintage feel to compliment the stamps.

There's a 10% Highlight Crafts discount code on my sidebar for anyone who is tempted to treat themselves. 

For SS it had to be Lavinia stamps and a collection of tags from my latest batch which I make to add in with challenge prizes at my various challenges. Oxide spray backgrounds, masking and a collection old and new stamps which all mix and match.

Another reminder that tickets for Crafting Live at Peterborough are now on sale, the show promises to be a good one with many of our favourite craft companies exhibiting and after not being able to go to one for well over two years I am sooooo looking forward to it.

Have a lovely Thursday everyone and my thanks as always for your kind visits.

 

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Christmas in a heatwave

Morning Peeps, no Allsorts post today as the current challenge is running for two weeks with the chance to win a £15 WOWVOW voucher.  

It's Zachary and Faith's wedding tomorrow, the weather is set to be glorious and momentum and excitement is gathering. As mentioned, mobility remains as issue but had a visit (shock horror) from the GP this week and he has prescribed morphine patches to help with my pain, so I am hopeful this will ease movement somewhat.......after all I need to be agile enough to grab the next glass of bubbles to stave off dehydration. Will share photos in my next post on 18th.

So instead of Allsorts shares I have a couple using some  new Highlight Crafts Two Red Robins goodies. I have a discount voucher (BRENDA10) if you are tempted to treat yourself on their website......just add at checkout.

Also a heads up that the Crafting Live show at Peterborough promises to be a sell out with a bumper number of exhibitors, you can book now here.

The new A Frosted Eve USB launched on Create and Craft last evening and I have used one of the backing scenes from the USB along with other new dies from the A Frosted Eve collection. I adore the background scene with Santa, it comes in a landscape and portrait option.

To create the semi wreath I used A Festive Posey and of course a couple of Robins from the same collection. The sentiment is from one of my own sets released on Create and Craft last month and can be purchased from Stamp Addicts here. Further down a sneak peek of two more of my sets just released which will showcase on C&C in the next Stamp Addict show.

One more not shared on my blog as yet using more of the same collection along with Deer to My Heart, aren't they adorable little creatures.

My new sentiments and inspirational quotes, a few old favourites and some new ones as well, for whatever reason the photos are blurry but I promise the stamped images are clean and crisp.

And they go rather nicely with these which are new and now available from Stamp Addicts and will also feature in the same C&C programmes.

No samples made with them yet, but will share soon.

Enjoy the sunshine and keep cool.

 

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