Beautiful Day

Morning Peeps, Saturday again and this weeks Allsorts theme as selected by Lorraine - aka Lolo, is 'Hand coloured or paper pieced image'. We have a lovely Tonic die donated by Colemans Warehouse as well as some images from Ruth Hamilton Design, so two winners this week.

I've got some paper piecing and colouring and also a couple of Two Red Robin shares, anyone tempted by their lovely nature inspired products can get a 10% discount by quoting brenda10 at checkout.

At the top a paper pieced creation using AALL and Create Textured Florals, it's an A5 set with this bloom, another plus sentiments and worker stamps. An Oxide background and the bloom stamped in a random circle shape in back and pink inks, then a focal bloom paper pieced using a deeper saturation of the same pink. The sentiment is from the same set as if the 'F' which I stamped onto white card, cut out and coloured the circles to carry the colour.

For my second share, I have used Ruth's Tulips, printing them our several times, colouring as best I could, we all know I'm not a colourist, cutting out and placing into a framed scene using Two Red Robins Bicycle and Stile from Cottonwood Clearing and Crookedy Fence.

And one more share, this one using Two Red Robins Botanical Beauty Tulips and Reflection sheets in two colurways, Ditsy Daisy and one of the chicks from Daisy, Dotty and Dizzy. The piece of Spring poetry is computer generated.

Happy weekend all and as always I really appreciate your visits and words of encouragement.

Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog.

"I love...." and a hint of Spring in the garden this week

Morning everyone, Allsorts challenge time again and this week Lynn has chosen the theme of "I love....", a chance to indulge in your favourite crafty loves. We welcome Oakwood Archer to our challenge who will be sending this weeks winner a surprise package of goodies. Their new Spring releases are being launched on The Craft Store on Monday 21st at 9am and 1pm.

And on the subject of Spring which is one of my other 'I loves,' I have a few photos of what's happening around the garden and paddocks this week, gales aside there are distinct signs of it being on the way.

As an Oakwood DT I am sharing a couple of recent makes for Monday's TV shows. Above using Little Critters and Rose Garden stamps and coordinating dies along with sentiments. An Oxide background, stamping using Oakwood Mixed Media Textures. Roses, two die cut hexagons and some washi tape and wordage to finish.

For this one I used the new Iris and Spring Verse, they are pretty large stamps and the verse which is A5 makes a great background. Here I used a reverse mask around the Iris and stamped the verse through the mask, then using a piece of torn paper to cover the card stamped down the edges.  

I just love Snowdrops growing in the undergrowth as with these in the top paddock hedgerow and a few Daffodils just peeking up behind. It's their normal habitat if one goes back over the years, they were first spotted in the UK in the 18th Century and believed to have been imported from the Continent where they grow wild in meadows and woods liking a damp climate. So in theory hedgerows and wooded areas are perfect habitats for them.

Two different varieties of Hellebore, the top one nestled into the undergrowth close to the Snowdrops and below in one of the flower beds.

One of the young Viburnum Tinus which usually flowers in April but well on it's way into bloom.

Primulas need no introduction, they've been rather battered by all the rain and winds but still glorious colours and below a few more Snowdrops, these are in a shrub bed.

Spring is clearly very early this year, some of the Daffodils are just beginning to show colour and will be ready to be picked in a few days. Let's just hope the weather gets the idea and the sun makes an appearance.

If you are still with me, a couple of photos taken through the kitchen window yesterday of a pair of Squirrels clearly terrified of the gales, the one in the tree sat immobile in that position for a good couple of hours, meanwhile his mate scuttled about under a Beech although the photos not as clear as it could be.

Have a good weekend and thanks as always for your visits.

 

Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog.

An outing for a couple of old favourites

Morning Peeps, it's mid month inspiration time at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where our themes are 'Anything Stamped' at both along with options of adding Stencilling at the first and Wings and Tails at the other.

My card above is for WLS using my two all time favourite stamps, Stampendous P107 Agapanthus Cluster along with Penny Black Dance, Sing, Love, both pretty old wood mounted stamps. 

After stamping both using Versafine Clair inks I added some 'rays' with a stencil and arranged the mat centrally and added a plethora of flowers around using Two Red Robins dies mostly from the Summer Breeze range and coordinating Reflection sheets. 

Two Red Robins is all about Nature and everything about it made complete sense the other day when it was explained Stephanie came up with the idea during the first Covid lockdown. Most of us humans were restricted to our homes, traffic both on the road and in the air was minimal, pollution levels improved and allowed Nature to have a new awakening, something that was noted Worldwide. Being a lover of all thing Nature I can totally identify with the principal. For those tempted by these super collections you can get a 10% discount using Brenda10 at checkout here.

This one using Mr Fox from AALL and Create In the Wild, an A4 stamp set and one of my favourites, the Rabbit on the set particularly. Some stencilling, washi tape and letters from Grunge Alphabet.

This one for Stamping Sensations following the Wings option used another AALL and Create stamp Exterminiati Sunt, it's a border stamp which has been stamped onto a soft oxide background and then Butterflies and Bee decoupaged.

And just one more for TRR this time using Scarlet Petal, Gus the Mouse and Ditsy Daisy.

Have a good Friday.

 

Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog.

Elegant CAS at Allsorts and a few more Stampendous

Morning Peeps, time for our new challenge at Allsorts where Ellie has chosen the theme of 'CAS with the option of Elegance' and there is a chance to win a £15 store voucher kindly donated by WOWVOW as well as another prize of an AALL and Create stencil.

My first card was a recent make for Fairy Hugs and features Olivia sitting atop Ink Cap Mushrooms reading her book and doing a bit of daydreaming. The wordage dies are a new Gemini alphabet set I purchased a couple of weeks ago, I've had my eye on it for ages but at nearly £50 a considered buy, but Colemans Warehouse recently had them 20% off so I went for it.

Above another of the Stamps by Me images I received for Christmas, this is one of their lamination stamps which also has a matching die. I used Versafine Clair Morning Mist for the first layer stamping and then Glamorous for the second layer and carried that colour to the die cut mat. The sentiment is from the same set.

And a few shares of the upcoming Oakwood and Stampendous TV shows on Sunday at 3pm and 7pm and Tuesday the iCraft show is at 7pm, although things are liable to change during the merger so as well to double check.

Music Speaks stencil, stencil paste onto an iCraft alcohol ink acetate panel

Stampendous Lovely Flowers (available from Sunday) onto Oxide background

Stampendous Peony Pair (available fro Sunday) and Aged Aqua Enamel EP

Have a good weekend everyone and as always many thanks for your visits.

 

 Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog.

Down the rabbit hole and a discount for all

A quick post from me with a few more Two Red Robin makes and also a 10% discount code which you can use on the Highlight Crafts website - home to Steph Weightmans Two Red Robins. The code is Brenda10, simple as that, should anyone have any problem using it please let me know. Note added: add the code without a space, my mistake how I typed it initially.

Above I've used products from Twilight Moments and below from New Beginnings, there choices of full bundles or selecting individually those that appeal to you. The artwork called Reflections are all available as downloads on the website, most free with colour options and then there are USB sticks giving even more flexibility.

Today I ordered a Scan and Cut, my Cricut expired ages ago and I never saw the need to replaced it, but the machine I've ordered looks to be very useful both within TRR products but also lots of other potential. A new learning curve coming my way!!

I know most think of me as an inky stamping crafter, but I have to admit I am thoroughly enjoying working with these products and find it very relaxing creating little scenes, just as though they were all down the end of the garden or across the paddocks. Sometimes I think it's good to break out of your comfort zone and do something a bit different, but as the eagle eyed might spot, I've still managed to squeeze in a PB sentiment on the second scene.

There will be new goodies coming along in the next week or two so watch this space, I am also hoping Stephanie is going to add a Horse to the range before long, I could find a place in my scenes for one or two of those then it really will be home from home. 

Thanks for popping in today, your visits are always appreciated.

 

Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog.

Special Moments

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 Anything Stamped with the option to add stencilling at the first or wings/tails at the second. Winners will received goodies from Lavinia and Uniko, photos of both bundles over at the challenge blogs.

It's AALL and Create for all shares,  I am loving their images since making the change from CB in the Autumn and have to say the quality and range of images is excellent and so inspirational.

My wings for Stamping Sensations comes in the form of the fabulous Woodpecker set called Follow your Own Path along with clocks from the aptly named Clock and Flowers. I have also added a few elements such as the sentiment from other sets, a coordinating envie and some clock hands to finish.

This one features a DL stamp called Gem of a Plant along with the squirrel from Key Botanical's, an Oxide and acetate 'splodged' background and stencilling, the little squirrel cut out and popped onto the word from the same set. Again an envie to match a la Hilary.

This set is called Scripted Botanicals and is just one of four in the set, they are not the cheapest brand, but most sets have several good sizes images so lots for your money and stamp like a dream. I created a partial circle with the Gelli Plate and added some stencilling. 

The sentiment is from one of my own sets, this one called Believe in your Dreams, several have asked where they can but them now. I have been tweaking/re-designing several sets which are to be released by a different company to previously and will be available very soon at the Craft Store or Create and Craft, the name which I believe is going to be used going forward from 25th February.

And one final Butterfly share using one of the Images from A&C's A4 set called Through the Meadow stamped onto a Gelli Place background, heat embossed with details clear EP, two of the sections tamped a second time onto white card and added as spotlights.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the challenges this month.

 

 Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog.

Poppies and Bunnies at play

Morning Peeps, Saturday morning and time for our new challenges at Allsorts.

At Allsorts Wendy is this weeks host with her theme of 'Anything Guest with the option of Red Flowers'. We have a beautiful paper pad and coordinating stamps from Craft Stash for this weeks lucky winner. 

I was recently invited to be a Brand Ambassador for Two Red Robins, the new range from Stephanie Weightman and Highlight Crafts. Having been one of her Tattered Lace DT's for several years I always loved the Charisma range and Two Red Robins products are rather like the Rolls Royce version of those. 

So today I have a couple of shares using the lovely artwork and intricate dies which unlike so many leave no white edges. Above I have used Scarlet Petal, Owlfred, A Fluffle Set and Mr Nosey, all dies are available in bundles and also individually, fully coloured artwork (reflection sheets) are available to download from the website, most free of charge to cut with your dies and there are also USB sticks for some ranges. There are also lovely backing sheets, the above is a vellum one which come in packs but are also available as downloads to print yourself.

This ones uses Phoenix aka Reynard who's not the most popular chap here at the moment, the other night he dug his way into Anysia's chicken house and cleared out all but one of the eight hens she hand reared from chicks. As she put it, the end to an already rotten week.

For the wall hanging I used the Poppies again, plus Sycamore and Soft Sprigs, arranged onto one of the background scenes and a little birdies from In the Distance.

A second share using a Stamps by Me image which was a Christmas gift, I stamped the focal image to the left of the card and added some worker stamps around the bloom, then a sentiment from my Believe in your Dreams and a little birdie from A&C Wire Birds.

Margo continues to do well and your messages have been greatly appreciated by us all. On a personal note I am a bit under the weather, I've have Diverticulitis for years but it's been controlled, but a new diagnosis of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis has exacerbated everything including my MS. I'm awaiting further tests to see what's to be done, so please forgive if I am not visiting as often as I might like.

Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog.

A smile from Margo

Morning everyone, a quick post with a few Fairy Hugs shares and also my January card which I sent to Jo as part of the months card exchange for the Card Chain Challenge.

I couldn't resist sharing a photo of out little Margo, now five months old and taken with Dad at the weekend, that smile melts our hearts and it's good to see her so happy after all she's been through in hospital the last couple of weeks. 

My top card uses Ink Cap Mushrooms, Bunnies, Dotted Mushrooms, Lantern Tree and Hanging Vines, Oxide and regular DI's, torn paper to crate the hills and a the edge of a piece of paper to create the rays from the moon.

For my CCC card I followed the grid line using Red from the colour options and Glitter which comes in the form of pearl mica spray onto the AALL and Create Papaver, after stamping and colouring flowers I often spray with it as it softens the card allowing you to shape the flowers. A stencilled background, wahi tape, birdie and sentiment from my Believe in your Dreams.

Have a good Wednesday.

 

Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog.