Allsorts 13th Birthday

Morning everyone, it's an exciting week at Allsorts as it's our 13th Birthday so our theme is simply 'Anything for a Birthday'. So many prizes to be won, a huge paper, scrapbook and card bundle, some images from Ruth Hamilton Design and thirteen prizes of stamps from a whole range of companies. 

I've been part of this fabulous challenge since day one but I think this is the first time I've really felt like I was scraping the barrel a bit, being non too well I've done little crafting for a few weeks so my normally bursting file of ready made work is running low. This one was made some time ago using a Penny Black Poppy, grasses and sentiment and a really old Hero Arts wheat stamp.

Edited: however........Thursday after yet another trip for treatment, I had a burst of energy, rare of late so adding another to this already scheduled post. It felt good to get inky and have a play with my AALL and Create goodies.

I do hope you will join in the fun week we have planned and look forward to seeing all your Birthday inspired creations.

 

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Gem of a plant

Morning Peeps, a quick post with a reminder of our current challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where are themes are A/G with a Floral and Fauna option and For a Lady or Girl. 

Above using AALL and Create Gem of a Plant stamped twice, coloured, cut out placed over a Sizzix Bigz window die. All were stamped onto offcuts as were the sentiments so I am going over to the Playground, they allowed me in last time round despite all my truancy so fingers crossed.

Some background stamping, my favourite squirrel and one of my own sentiment from Believe in Your Dreams. Lots have asked about buying the set, it is in progress and will be re-released shortly along with my first set of Christmas stamps.

And below using Penny Black Lilac and a hexagonal card cut with my old favourite Tattered Lace sets. The Butterfly is also Penny Black.

Have a good Wednesday and thanks for your kind visits.

 

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Sparkle at Allsorts

Morning everyone, before my shares for today my apologies for being a really back blogger the last few weeks. I've been under the weather and knock on effect is eyes worse than normal so done little crafting, I'm on a new daily treatment which is full on for the first few weeks and it's shattering me, which I'm told is quite normal, but after these loading dose injections things should start to look better.

So at Allsorts it's time for another challenge but before I tell you about that we have something to whet your appetite in readiness for our 13th Birthday next Saturday. We have a fun challenge planned and so many prizes, you won't want to miss out and we hope you will share the news with your fellow bloggers.

Pauline has selected the theme of 'Add some Sparkle', very fitting with a £15 store voucher to be won from WOWVOW plus some craft stencils.

For my share it's some Lavinia magic using Bumble Lodge onto an oxide background, Fox set 1 and worker stamps to build up the scene and of course a couple of Fairies hovering above.  A matching envie as well.

As I always do for Birthday week, I have created a collection of tags to go in with the prize packs. I've used several AALL and Create sets stamping onto brayered backgrounds and although it doesn't show very well on the photos they do all have some glitter to tie in with this weeks theme.

Have a good weekend everyone.

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Painted Lady

Morning everyone, time for another challenge at Allsorts where Lolo has selected the theme of 'Favourite stamps and dies'. This weeks prizes comes from Oakwood Archer.

For the above card which was for a Stampendous Create and Craft TV show I have used Fran's Painted Lady available in the UK from Oakwood. I wanted to create a soft ethereal feel so for the background used a piece of patterned rice paper sprayed with Oxides, then stamped and heat embossed the image with detail white EP and added just a little colour with Distress markers.

A second share also for a recent TV show using Stampendous Geranium Pitcher, I kept it fairly simple, stamping with Versafine Clair and coloured with Oakwoods brand new sparkle pens. At the moment they are only available from Create and Craft here but for sixteen pens great value at £34.84 (or £31.36 if you are a club member, that's £1.96 per pen, almost half the price of some other brands). The frame and circles are all part of a set from Carnation Crafts, the main frame is a really good size, the card above is an 8x8.

Thanks so much your your visits and hope everyone has a good weekend.

 

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A bit of recycling

Morning Peeps, today sees the start of our May challenge at River Of Creativity and this month our theme is 'Anything Goes with the option to recycle'. The challenge is non card making but we love to see any other form of hand crafted items, needlework, jewellery, scrapbook layouts, cake making mixed media projects, we love seeing them all.

I changed direction with my DT share, I had made a frame with lots of buttons, but I became less keen on it each time I saw it so instead recycled a Fortum and Mason chocolate box I received at Christmas......... which contained my favourite dark chocolate coffee creams.

I painted the top of the box with acrylic paint, decorated the edges with Two Red Robins Forever Green Ivy and the top with an organza bow and TRR Adoration from the Mother's Love collection.

Seems like a good idea to share a few of my recent shares over at TRR as well.

Using the super new web exclusive Friesian Cows called The Herd and Crookedy Fence.

Lots of Reflections and dies going on in this one, Well Wishing, Broken Boundaries wall which coordinated with the well perfectly, and Jenny Wren in several sizes, Maeve is the big one in the front and the others from In the Countryside. Also used the same Ivy as around the box. 

Have a good Thursday everyone.

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Flora and Fauna

Morning Peeps, before I more on my thanks for all your lovely comments and messages on the photos of Margo yesterday, after the scary few weeks earlier in the year it's wonderful to see her so bright and happy. 

So, the first Sunday of the month means the start of our new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where our themes are 'For a Lady' and 'Anything stamped with option of Flora and Fauna'. Our winners will receive Poppy themed stamps and coordinating DP's from Crafts Stash and coordinating stamps, dies and stencil from Oakwood Archer.

My five panel card above uses a new April release from AALL and Create called Woodland, I can't add the link at the A&C store as it's not loaded yet but I believe was available from some UK retailers Friday. A brayered background with Oxides, images stamps and some colour added, stencilling and number and letters from A&C Grunge Alphabet.

A real favourite on this one called Textured Florals, Oxides, background stamping using a mixture of workers stamps and that little Squirrel again, he creeps in all over the place.

One more veering to the fauna side of the SS theme, again AALL and Create stamps, a Gelli Plate background, this one with acrlic inks, the main image is one of the stamps from an A4 set called Seeds of Hope. The Butterfly and leaf to the right stamped a second time on to scraps of inky card and paper pieced and various words stamped onto the same to carry the colour and a ring purloined from one of hubby's greenhouses.

Now at the risk of giving Sarn and Miss Di a fit of the vapours (I've got the smelling salts ready) it just occurred to me mentioning the use of snippets that I just might be able to link the above card over at the Playground. It's been an awful long time since I popped over there, I think they all got the hump when I got my own treehouse (photo below built by one of our son's). I did plan inviting the gang over then thought better of it as I know some.....no names mentioned....have a tendency to have impromptu midnight feasts and I need my beauty sleep.

The photo was a couple of months ago with the essential Lab on guard, this one being baby Rosa, but it's becoming nicely hidden now the trees are bursting into life.

I do hope you can join us this month.

 

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Scenic and Margo gets into the saddle

Morning everyone, time for another challenge at Allsorts and this week Lynn has selected the theme of 'Anything Goes with a Scenic option'. This weeks prizes are a lovely Indigo Blu stamp and three images from Ruth Hamilton Design.

Above a touch of Fairy magic using lots of Lavinia stamps, Oxides and Pan Pastels blended together on the background and of course some glitter to finish off.

A second scene of a totally different kind, this time out in the paddocks with the hens and newly hatched chicks......sadly we don't have any this year as one cockerel was too clever and chanced a night out in a tree and the prowling Fox, the other killed off along with several hens by a neighbouring farmers dog.....I won't even get into the ensuing story!!

Most of the images/dies on this one are from Two Red Robins Morning Sunshine collection and up in the tree Cecil or Sidney, you can choose which one it is. The Tractor is called Old Tom from Bumblebee Barn collection, the Reflections come in several colourways but for me it had to be an old red Massey, just like one that still trundles around here with a trailer for 'collecting'....or poo picking as it's aptly called in the horsey fraternity, there are lovely scoop and rake sets in all sorts of colours for the purpose, we have pink and purple!! 

 

And before I go, baby Margo, eight months old yesterday, had her first sit on a horse at the weekends Hunter Trials. This one is Ben, not her own pony Penelope (yes GG went soft at Christmas) as yet, Ben is totally bombproof so the safest option for starters and with Anysia had a clear on Sunday. Judging by her face Margo is a chip of the old block and her excitement when she sees dogs or horses echoes my own.

Have a good weekend, here in the UK it's a long Bank Holiday weekend but the weather forecast doesn't seem to have taken account of that and temps of 12/13 deg promised.

 

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Lets play I spy

Morning Peeps, Saturday again and this weeks Allsorts theme as selected by Ellie is 'I spy something beginning with B'. Our prizes this week is are a £15 store voucher from Pearlywinks and craft stencils.

My B's come in the form of Brown, Bird and Badger, all stamps are AALL and Create Clocks and Flowers, Wire Birds and Scripted Botanicals. 

A very technically created base card.......an extra large dinner plate, craft knife and score board!! Oxide ink and all stamping done with Versafine Clair Acorn, no real colouring just some shading added with inks and blending brush and some white highlight to the badger and posca white flicks to finish.

And a second card using Two Red Robins Everlasting die from A mothers Love collection, I love the colours of the Reflection sheets for this one, I arranged two of of the floral sprays onto an embossed panel and added a coordinating bow.

It's been ages since I joined in with the Butterfly Challenge, or any come to that, but I was intrigued by the current Floating Strip card so chopped up a piece of my acetate which was already coloured with alcohol ink (Fuchsia and Fawn being two of the named colours) and this is what I came up with. The Butterfly of course with the added option of Flowers and colours Fuchsia, Fawn, Flame and Flax, so I reckon I ticked all seven boxes, but I am sure Mrs A will check that out.

Here's a couple more of my samples from the new release from Highlight Crafts and Create and Craft TV.

Have a good weekend and thanks for your visit.

 

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Grazing Cows and Spring Flowers

Morning Peeps, a bit of a bumper post as it's time to share some sneak peeks of upcoming new releases from Highlight Crafts Two Red Robins as well as our mid month shares at Stamping Sensations and We Love Stamping challenges.

I was so excited when I knew cattle were joining the Two Red Robin family and it takes me right back to childhood growing up with them. Mind you they still terrify me and despite all my Dad tried to instil into me, to this day I walk close to the headland when going through a field of them. Yet I have no issue with a field of Horses, I think with Cows it's the way they stare at you.

So above are the new Friesian Cows which come in different sizes to allow you to build up a scene with perspective. The wall is from Get to Work (also available individually) and From Afar (telegraph poles and wire).

There are also some Highland Cattle and market garden produce which I will share another day as well as a rather lovely Cat which you can see further down. I can't provide the links to the new goodies yet as they won't be on the Highlight Crafts website until 21st April where you will find them under Web Exclusives.

The Peony on my card above is from Vintage Inc onto a Gelli Plate circle,  stamped a second time onto card inked with Oxides, cut out and paper pieced, some stencilling and washi tape.

This is rather similar to one I blogged a couple of weeks ago but this time using Tulips from Vintage Inc, an Oxide background and stamping using the same inks and one of the lace stamps in the collection.

Finally the new Cat I mentioned, a simple card as I think the gorgeous cat with those green eyes needs to be centre stage. Remember, if I have tempted you to 'need' any of the new products you can get a 10% discount using the code Brenda10 also shown on the logo on my sidebar.

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Birds and more Birds for Allsorts

Morning Peeps, Saturday morning and a new theme at Allsorts, the theme this week is 'Masculine. This will be a two week challenge to cover the Easter period. We have two stamps as prizes, both from Craft Stash, one is AALL and Create and the other Woodware.

Yet again an AALL and Create sample, this one using Seeds of Hope onto an oxide background just 'splodged' on with acetate, a little colour added to lift some elements, wordage, washi tape and little birdies.

The second one a rather belated sample using the larger Bird image from Friendship Florals, one of the new Spring releases. A Gelli Plate circle using Oxides, the Birdie stamped and a few elements bleached out, some background stamping and words from the same set.

And before I go, a few of this weeks Two Red Robins samples using some of this weeks new releases from Highlight Crafts April Showers collection released on Create and Craft TV. Some of the veggies are also available as Web Exclusives, note the size of the radish's in the new Greenhouse, clearly, it's extremely hot inside!

Above and below this weeks new web exclusive releases, Fox Cubs called Little Rascals and Mum Flora watched over my Dad Phoenix. In the background the Hay Bales from Twilight Moments and Poppies from Scarlet Petal and Spotty Dotty. The Foxes and the Just in Case range (card below) are all on special offer at the moment and you can get an extra 10% off by using my code on the sidebar.

And finally the Sloths from the Just in Case range, curious animals I always think just hanging around as they tend to do, over a stencilled background.

Happy weekend and as always my appreciation for your visits and words of encouragement.

 

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Kingsley and Merriweather

Morning again Peeps, posts from me are a bit like buses the last few days and this one is for our April challenge at River of Creativity where our theme is 'Anythings Goes with a Spring option (but no cards)'.

As mentioned in my post on Saturday I had a second shadow box photo to share, these are for our little Margo's new bedroom, I think this is probably my favourite of the two as I just love Kingsley and Merriweather the Geese from Highlight Crafts. 

It's a lovely summer day and the blossom (Honey Rose Blossom) is in full bloom and Croockedy Fence makes another appearance. I can totally lose myself working with Steph's Two Red Robin dies and Reflection sheets as the artwork is fabulous and so realistic, I will be sharing some new animals with you later this month, all I can say is we will be down on the farm so I am completely at home.

I am planning a third frame, things look better in threes but not sure on the animals yet,  I love Phoenix the Fox but decided not the best of animals for a little one, especially after Saturday's frame with all the hens!! So maybe it will be some of the new animals mentioned above. Don't forget to claim your 10% discount with the code on my sidebar if you are tempted by these goodies.

I do hope you will join us this month, although we are a non card challenge we have been so encouraged to see your lovely creations, some of you stepping right outside your comfort zone to join in.

 

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More Spring flowers

Morning Peeps, it's the first Sunday of the month which means the start of our new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where our themes are 'Stamp of the Moment' and 'I love....'. Our winner at the first will received a Santoro collection from Craft Stash and at SS three prizes of Penny Black stamps.

I also have my share for this months Card Chain Challenge the day's are still running away with me and this should have been blogged yesterday, but I am slowly getting there and meds might be kicking in as I seem to have a bit more strength this week.

My 'Stamp of the Moment' was an easy choice as I was lucky to be sent the very first release of Vintage Inc's stamps released on Create and Craft in March called Flower Parch Collection. One never knows how stamps from new companies will perform but I can say these stamp beautifully and the designs are typical Steph Weightman with attention to detail and I thoroughly enjoyed making my samples. Here on an Oxide brayered background, stencilling and soft colour added to the stamped images. I'm already excited about the next release. At the risk of boring you as lot's already know, but there is a 10% discount code on my sidebar for Highlight Crafts (home of Two Red Robin dies, Vintage Inc stamps and lots more).

My Stamping Sensations share had to include my 'I loves....' of Flowers inks, colour and a bit of grunge.  A Gelli Plate background using acrylic paints, Sizzix Bigz Gothic window with a liberal coating of teal Frantage EP, the words Tulip stamped in the background and heat embossed with an orangey EP. The focal Tulips stamped three times and all the workers stamps and words from AALL and Create Spring Florals.

This is the card I sent to Dawn in New Zealand for this Card Chain Challenge using a collection of AALL and Create stamps.

And here is the card I received from Pia in Norway, it's so different from anything I would make which makes it extra special to receive and why this challenge is so very different to any other.

Have a good Sunday.

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