Illuminated Stag

Morning everyone, hard to believe it's our last challenges of the year at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where our themes are Winter Flowers and Foliage and Favourite Colours along with the A/G option. Prizes this month come from AALL and Create and Highlight Crafts, some gorgeous stamps from both.

Above my WLS share using AALL and Create Crystal Wood (864), coloured in with Ecoline pens, stencilling in the background using Folium (155) then pinecones in the top corners from Pinecone (389), the word Winter from Seasons (455) with a sentiment from one of my own Christmas set's, now back in stock at Create and Craft.

Deciding on my SS make was difficult as I like so many colours (except blue to which I have an aversion!!), it's probably better to say I like colour combinations, some that seem a bit offbeat to the more conventional crafter. So I decided to go with a couple of favourite Oxides which I frequently combine, Cracked Pistachio and Wilted Violet.

My starting point was the new Tag it Yourself dies from AALL and Create which I am still loving, both the distressed design and size which is larger than many tag dies.  After splodging ink and water from acetate I stamped the images which come from Flower Trio (924), Anemone (980) and Forget Me Not (896). The little circles with flowers are one of the stamps on Anemone, stamped and masked to allow the larger flowers to be behind. Words from my favourite sentiment set Power of the Word (756), paper pieced flowers stamped on inky offcuts as are the sentiments so popping over to the Snippets Playground with this one (no snippet photo I'm afraid - not that organised!).

We are really looking forward to seeing your creations this month so hope you can find time amidst all the pre Christmas activities to join in.

More Crunched Leafdrops and Fairies

Morning everyone, Saturday again and at Allsorts Liz has chosen the theme of 'Stitching, real or faux', along with the usual A/G option. This weeks prizes again come from  AALL and Create.

The two arch shapes were leftovers from cutting a frame so being frugal (unusual for me) I decided to see if I could stitch round them to make a card for today's theme. After lending my machine to eldest Granddaughter it seems I now only have one stitch option which is this zigzag, need time to sit and play with the settings.

Some oxide ink splodged from acetate, the smaller Pinecone from AALL and Create A4 (389) Pinecone set along with the Robin from Robin and Nuthatch (690) and on the other side the birdie and numerical background also from the Pinecone set. The Pinecone and Birdies were stamped again and decoupaged, then more of the gorgeous Crunched Leafdrops (1109) stamped onto inky offcuts and cut out with the coordinating die Leafinitely Detailed (25). Making a last minute dash to Path of Positivity with this one where they are asking for texture.

These leaves are so realistic and look just like the golden carpets around our orchard and gardens at the moment. Autumn was very late here in the Fens and definitely merged with Winter this year, this morning everything has an eerie feel, not only frost again but fog as well and real crunchiness underfoot.

My second share is for the current Butterfly Challenge, as usual at this time of year the Butterflies are all in their pupa/chrysalis stage of life so this month the Fairies come out to play. All stamps by Lavinia mostly the new collection which so many of us seem to have succumbed to, although probably geared towards Winter, can to my mind work all year round.

It's also reveal day at the Card Chain Challenge and this is the card I sent to Barbara in Switzerland. A masked panel, two shades of Oxide along with A&C Foilum stencil (155) and the Thistle one of three large stamps on A5 set Flower Journey (904) currently half prize at £9.50 here.

Hope you all have a good weekend.

Helleborus

Morning everyone, another Saturday and another new theme at Allsorts which has been chosen by Sarah, it's 'Colours of Winter' and as usual there's the A/G option. This month we are doing prizes a little different and this week and next we have stamps and stencils that will make all those  AALL and Create fans happy.

Several contacted me unable to buy the new AALL and Create products in my post a couple of days ago, I'm told they sold out very quickly on TV and direct from A&C, but one or two retailers still have stock, so a search might prove lucky (names and codes to help find in my post below this one)

But AALL and Create still have some fabulous bargain and discounts, lots of stamps and stencils are half price or less including some of those I have used today, but you need to be quick as I'm told the sale will end very soon.

My 'Colours of Winter' come in the form of one of the latest AALL and Create releases called Hellebore (1063), an A5 stamp set with four good sized stamps on it, I'll confess to making quite a few when this one landed.

Above a 'splodged' Oxide background using acetate and some stencilling to create sunshine and words from the A4 set called Blackbird (530). The focal Hellebore is paper pieced from inky offcuts and the leaves coloured with Distress Pencils, two little Hares from Miniatures (756) and Winter from Seasons (455).

Another 'splodged' Oxide background using the same method but two shades of blue this time, I find you have far more control taking the acetate to card, rather than trying to do the other way round. Stencilling using shaded lilac and one of the new stencils called Snow Crystals (221),  it's so delicate and the circle of snowflakes makes a lovely card on it's own with just a sentiment added, ideal if you are batch making.

The focal flower was stamped both onto the card base and several times onto inky offcuts, cut out and paper pieced. The word Winter again from and other words from Power of the Word (754). Two small pheasant from Pheasant (454)......despite being about all year round Pheasants say Winter to me, probably because between October and February they used to appear on our dinner table with regularity when I lived at home (sorry folks but I've lived on a farm all my life!), I'll add we just enjoy watching them strut their stuff these days.

Many thanks for your visits and I do hope you will join us this week.

Crunched Leafdrop

Morning everyone, a quick post to share a card made with the gorgeous new AALL and Create stamps and dies which are part of today's Pick of the Day on Create and Craft and also available direct from AALL and Create here. There are also Black Friday deals to be had right across the web site.

This release is designed by Abs and not only something a bit different, gorgeous as well. Being a confirmed Treeaholic not surprisingly the first thing I grabbed was Crunched Leafdrop (1109) and Leafinitely Detailed (25), coordinating stamps and dies. I will share more using some of the others in the release in due course.

A quick card as I needed to get this post done, various colours of oxide applied to a piece of card using acetate, the leaves stamped in Versafine Pinecone then cut out with the dies. The base card is a mop up piece from my spray box (it has corrugated at the bottom), AALL and Create leaves arranged into a semi circle, the Robin from Robin and Nuthatch (690) and Autumn from Pinecone (389) an A4 stamp set currently on offer at £11.60 (usually £28.99). The little dots to which I applied Glossy Accents are from the leaf set and some Highlight Tilsen gold to some of the leaves.

I would like to enter this at the current Path of Positivity challenge were the optional theme is Texture and also this weeks Simon Say's Wendesday challenge who would like to see some Sparkle, hopefully the gold leaf will fit the bill.

Hope your all having a good Wednesday.

Christmas Time

Morning everyone, a busy post as it's a new challenge at Allsorts where Lolo is our host and also the day for mid month inspiration at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations and all have a Christmas theme. Prizes this month come from Prizes from Stampendous, Oakwood Direct and WOWVOW, Craft Stash and Penny Black.

Floral indulgence above using Two Red Robins Seasons Finishing Touches which was the current Pick of the Week at Create and Craft but sold out day one, not surprising as it's beautiful and I absolutely loved working with this collection. Above the Hellebore (Christmas Rose) arranged around a semi circle and sentiment from one of my Christmas Season sentiment sets (currently sold out due to the latest rubber shortage affecting lots of craft companies at the moment).

I also have another for Allsorts this week, again using the above collection but this time the web exclusives. Those who know me will have an idea of my sheer horror when I saw these dies, me and cute just don't go together. 

But a challenge is a challenge so I set about making the requisite number of samples and much to my surprise Steph actually showcased this one in her Morning Highlight preview show giving customers a hint of what was to come.

One of my mid month shares, this for WLS using AALL and Create Flourish, an A5 stamp set currently on offer for just £7.60 (usually £18.99) and the Robin from Robin and Nuthatch also on offer at £4.60, there are several available at these offer prices so why not treat yourself. A stencilled background using their Folium stencil, again on offer along with several others at £3, that's half price. I made up the word Robin with Garden she Wrote.

For SS, a mixture of Penny Black, AALL and Create and Lavinia stamps to create the wreath using Versafine Claire inks and the same sentiment as above.

Friendship

Morning everyone, another Saturday means another new challenge at Allsorts and Lynn is our host this week with the theme of Friendship and as always there's the A/G option. Prizes this month come from Stampendous, Oakwood Direct and WOWVOW.

I've used AALL and Create Hexapetalistic stamped onto an inky background over which I did some stencilling and soft background stamping using a stamp from the same set as the side panel called Flourish. I would like to link this to the new Path of Positivity challenge hoping the words are inspirational and positive. There is also some added texture in the centre of the flowers.

This one uses the Buttercups from AALL and Create Build me Up, a brayered background, stencilling and the flowers paper pieced and popped into a stamped vase. Words from Power of the Word.

I was inspired by the new Butterfly Challenge which is looking for Poppies, Panels and of course a Butterfly. 

The idea when I started was CAS, but of course one thing led to another and now it's all rather busy, but think it's growing on me. I used AALL and Create Papaver Poppies (currently on offer at £7.60 less than half price), Forget me Not (same sale price) and Garden she Wrote. The base arch dies are Tattered Lace, cut three times and hinged, a simple brayered background with stencilling, Poppies all paper pieced from inky offcuts. The centre sentiment is from my own Moments stamp set available from Create and Craft here.

Hope your weekend is a good one.

Christmas Characters and an awesome Moon

Morning everyone, before I tell you about our November challenge, there are changes afoot to entry requirement at both, full details on the challenge blogs, but the bottom line is we have relaxed the amount of stamping required. 

So our optional themes are at We Love Stamping 'Christmas Characters' and at Stamping Sensations 'Get ready for Christmas'. Prizes for the first comer from Sizzix and Craft Stash and at the other Penny Black. 

My card at the top is my SS piece using Penny Black 2808L Winter Glow, a real oldie wood mounted which I've had for many years, 3227K Hope is Born, another wood mounted stamp which I absolutely love, and 51-068 the die which PB released not that long ago but it coordinates with the Poinsettia. The Poinsettias were stamped onto offcuts inking direct to stamp with watercolour brush pens, die cute and arranged over a base with fancy panel using a Tattered Lace die.  And the mention of offcuts leads me to the Snippets Playground where I am going to link this one. I am also going to link to the current Path of Positivity following the A/G route but with the positive quote.

I will confess to having a bit of a meltdown over the WLS theme as it conjures up cute images and all those things way outside my comfort zone. After much deliberation I decided on a couple of Penny Black stamps in the hope the little girl and her Goose are characters in Christmas mode. 

Among my Mum's ancient photos there's one of me when I was about three in a coat rather like this one and I think that was behind me buying this stamp years ago, my coat was mostly red and I was feeding a Hen, of course I was, I was obsessed with Hens, Dogs and Horses from the moment I could walk. Wonder where Margo gets it from. 

The little girl is PB 40-038 Kindness and in the background 40-567 Restful, a lightly inked background, some colouring and lots of snow. As you will see this is one of the cards for Margo's second Christmas.

Finally, I couldn't resist a photo of the awesome Hunters Moon last weekend as it rose over the pond in the corner of the top paddock. I remember this moon so well from younger days as it marked the start of the hunting season, always a source of excitement as our village meet (Hunt) coincided, then I loved riding to hounds, now, older and wiser, no way would I partake.

I do hope we can encourage you to get crafting and join us this month.

Down in the woods

Morning everyone, it's Saturday again and a new challenge at Allsorts where this week Ellie has chosen the theme of The Great Outdoors and as always there's the A/G option. Prizes this month come from Stampendous, Oakwood Direct and WOWVOW.

For the one above I've gone magical, the Fairy and Badger are out in the woods and I'm sure there are lots of other little creatures hiding and watching. All stamps are Lavinia and the background Pan Pastels which were well overdue for an outing. Some sparkle on the Fairies wings and a matching envie.

Then I decided to make a second one with an Autumnal feel using the lovely Maple leaf from AALL and Create's Fallen Leaves which I stamped three times onto some inky offcuts and cut out. The tent fold base is constructed with an acetate centre panel over which I placed the leaves. Words from the same set, some stencilling, a strip of washi tape across the top and my favourite little Squirrel.

At Highlight Crafts we've had several releases on Create and Craft over the last week so I'm a bit behind sharing a few samples. The first three were created with the new MCS Best of Christmas, now available as a direct download as well as USB.

The gold on the Madonna and frame is a fabulous new product from Cadence, Gilding Tilsen, it's the easiest format of gilding flakes I've ever used. I've wasted so much gold leaf over the years as never happy with the result. Tilsen is very fine shreds applied with a brush over a coat of Mixion, it really is so simple yet so effective. I've used it on a number of projects and the jar still looks as full as when I started so on balance not as expensive as might appear when you look at the price.

The next ones are using Blossom Boutique which is the Weekend Wonder over at C&C.

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

Embossing

Morning everyone, a new challenge at Allsorts and Dena would like to see embossing, either dry and heat. This months fabulous bundle of prizes come from Stampendous, Oakwood Direct and WOWVOW.

We were all coming to terms with losing Lab Lily last week, then yesterday Ben had to be put to sleep. We bought him for Anysia when she was ten and he seven, he was her best friend so it goes without saying she is totally devastated, as are we all. Big Ben as we called him was 28 and I'll share the photo again of him and Anysia just a few weeks ago when they had a haul of rosettes eventing.

At the top a card made some time ago but never blogged, heat embossed the AALL and Create border stamp Create Sunshine using detail gold EP. Coloured in (afraid don't remember what with!!) and added a colour wash of blue around the image and just matted onto coordinating cardstock, a pretty simple make.

This is another of those I made and explained in my post a couple of weeks ago here, for this one I used mainly Dylusions and without the mica elements the black is more intense. 

Have a good weekend all.

Botanical Bottles

Good afternoon, first can I say a big thank you for your kind messages following my last post where I mentioned we had lost Lily. I'm pleased to say that sister Daisy seems to be settling and no longer goes searching for her which is a relief.

Onto my cards, I was recently asked if I would do some designing for Create and Craft who now have their own branded products, so here is a little share of those being released tomorrow at 6pm as their Pick of the Day.

The collection is called Botanical Bottles, a soft pastel colourway with a distinctly feminine feel, there are flowers, foliage and bottles along with a USB so everything coordinates perfectly.

Have a good week and my thanks for your visits.

Colours of Autumn

Morning everyone, Saturday morning so time for a new challenge at Allsorts and this week Lynn is in tune with the season and the theme of Autumn Colours, along with the A/G option. This months fabulous bundle of prizes come from Stamp Addicts, Oakwood, Highlight Crafts, Ruth Hamilton Dedsign, AALL and Create and Craft Stash.

I've not been the best of bloggers, it's not been a bit of a horrid week, we lost lovely Lily, my daughters Lab. When a Lab doesn't eat you know things are not good and in the end that horrid decision had to be made, Joy and I were both with her at the end. Those who have been through it as we have, too many times, will know. Daisy, our senior girl is 13 from the same litter and they have always done things together so we are hoping she won't pine too much. At the moment she still expects her to appear and stands looking a tad confused.

Onto my card which thankfully was made a few weeks ago as I've done little crafting this week. I absolutely love these wellies from A&C's The Great Outdoors, several pairs very like these are never far away. I masked the centre panel, inked with Oxides and used a stencil and texture paste to add the 'rays'. The flowers from Woodland and Flower Journey and words from good old Power of the Word. I stamped an envie with the Cone Flowers and stencilled some leaves.

Have a good weekend.

Live, laugh, dream

Morning everyone, it's mid way inspiration time at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations challenges where our themes are as always Anything Stamped with options of A mood board and Autumn colours. And a little note to say we will be announcing some changes to both challenges, so please make you check our new challenge posts on 5th November.

My card above following the colours of the mood board using A&C Daisy Elegance which along with lots of other A4 stamp sets is currently on offer for £11.60 (usually £28.99). Oxide background, some stencilling using Twisting and Turning and words from my own Believe, one of my own inspirational sentiment sets available from Create and Craft and Stamp Addicts. I would like to enter this into the current challenge at Path of Positivity who have a lovely photo for inspiration full of rich colours and also the new challenge at the Snippets Playground, bottles, flowers and sentiment all stamped onto inky offcuts.

This one is not dissimilar to one a few weeks ago, some simple matting and layering, ink blending using Autumnal coloured Oxides, the three A&C A7 sets, Windy Willow, Leaf is Better and Garden Times all stamped with Versafine Clare Acorn and some colour added to bring the laves to life.

Here it is folded and tied with some ribbon.