Magnolias and Palace visit

Morning everyone, time for new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where our themes are Vintage as selected by Lynn and a Mood Board to celebrate Pinky's birth month, along with the usual option of A/G with your stamped element.

Further down an insight into the weeks activities!

Above a page from an old book, some inky treatment then stamped the Penny Black Magnolia using my stamp platform to build up the colour. Butterfly, words from AALL and Create (754) and the word Vintage computer generated. Plus an envie to match. 

More AALL and Create, this time Watering Can (437), flowers from Hexapetalistic (978) Woody the Woodpecker from Follow your own Path (563), all cut out on the Scan and Cut and washi tape which I coloured in parts to carry the colours. When I use the S&C to cut elements most are stamped into snippets, it's a great way to use them all up, so I'm off to the Snippets Playground with this one.

The Palace visit was amazing, although not many photos to share as phones and belongings had to be handed in after walking through the Grand Entrance (where we see carriages arrive on TV footage). A limited number of photos were allowed in the central courtyard after the ceremony, but most of the photos were official ones which will be available shortly.

The Princess Royal officiated and displayed her usual sense of humour when Owen replied to a question and mentioned details of one of his meetings where the Queen, her Mother was present. The actual ceremony took place in the Throne Room and it was sobering realising how many Monarchs had been seated there over the centuries.

We were treated to a mini tour of some rooms, the Music Room with an amazing domed ceiling where many Royal Christenings have taken place including the (then) Princess Royal and Prince of Wales. The Blue Room is a huge galleried room of ornate furniture and fine china pieces, The White Room houses the Erard grand piano, a gift to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, a beautiful gold piece with inlaid carvings in shades of pink. We were seated alongside it on a huge chaise lounge and gold embroidered chairs for a time and I would so love to have taken a photo of all. 

That room also has the late Queens secret door leading to her private quarter's, disguised as a huge ornate mirror. The Equerry who escorted our party explaining everything in great detail said it's original purpose was to ensure the Queen could leave one gathering without doubling up on distance and move on refreshed to attend the next.

The room which had a great impact on me was the Queens Gallery (recently re-named by her eldest Son as the Picture Gallery), it houses the Worlds largest display of works by Venetian artist Canaletto. Being a lover of Venice, the artwork really appealed.

Just a few photos, the best I can offer at the moment, taken over the shoulders of one of the official photographers....

After the ceremony we had a champagne dinner at the Oxo Tower, Harvey Nichols restaurant, which by coincidence is where my outfit came from! We met up with Owen's daughters (two of our elder Granddaughters) and all was delicious especially my chocolate and cherry creation.

Added bonus of the day, you'll need to be a sport enthusiast to appreciate this one, Jeff Settling late of Sky TV was there to receive an MBE, we had a long chat with him and his wife and got an update on Hartlepool United.....again you'll need to know who he is to get that one!

Finally, I went into hospital first thing the morning after the Palace excitement, had both spinal and head procedures done, the latter required 48 hours rest as I opted for spinal anesthesia rather than a general, so it's taken a bit longer than planned to write this. Due back for a check up Wednesday.

Back to challenges and really hope you will join in with our themes this month.

Flight of the Dragonfly

Morning everyone, a new challenge at Allsorts and Liz would like to see 'More than one Fold'. Prizes come from Oakwood and Highlight Crafts. I'm out of hospital but a bit fragile so will update on the weeks special events tomorrow.

A tri fold tag card using AALL and Create Tag it Yourself dies(27), Oopsa stencil (161), Wingbrushed (1107) and Time Heals (1110). A brayered and stencilled background, pot from Containers (401) plus a few left over flowers and Squirrel from Highlight TRR collections.

Allsorts celebrates it's 15th Birthday in a couple of weeks and there are awesome prizes, know we always have good ones but believe me this will be sooooo special. So please share the logo to help us spread the word........and talking of words, theres a play on them in the logo to give you a hint of what's to come!

Poppy parade

Morning everyone, a new challenge at Allsorts where Denas's theme is to incorporate stencil's into our work. Prizes come from Oakwood and Highlight Crafts.

Above a Highlight Crafts TV sample using the new MCS Floral Extravaganza and A5 stencil collection, the base tag is AALL and Create, an oxide spray background and stencilling with distress crackle paste. 

The image on this is one of several on AALL and Create Crystal Wood (864), Stamped and unusually for me coloured in, some stencilling using Twisting and Turning (157) and words from Power of the Word (754).

I also have a share for the new Rudolph Days challenge, a mixture of Lavinia, AALL and Create and my own seasonal sentiment stamps.

Finally, a date for the rescheduled hospital treatment, it's this coming week the day after our Buckingham Palace trip for eldest Son's investiture, not ideal timing but so pleased it's eventually happening as my body seems to have reached rock bottom.

Which means I'll be MIA much of the week so see you all soon.

Up up and away

Morning everyone, a new challenge at Allsorts where Mervi would like to see Balloons. Prizes come from AALL and Create.

A short post, it was scheduled ready but realised last minute I'd not done the write up. Not been the best of weeks and to top it all infection and constant migraines now playing havoc with my dodgy eyes, so not feeling on my game. 

Both shares were samples for Stamp Addicts TV shows a few months ago but never shared, using what were then new release stamps, Pan Pastels for colour and dies.

Thanks to all who visit and leaving kind comments which I so appreciate.

Special moments

Morning Peeps, it's mid way for our April challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where our themes are Spring and A/G with a Spring mood board.

It's AALL and Create all the way, well nothing much new there really! Above for SS taking inspiration from the colours, Bird and blossoms.

The Tulips are from A&C Elegant Spring Florals (623) decoupaged onto a base tag which is A&C Tag it Yourself (27) which I brayers lightly to give some background colour and used crackle paste to add some sun rays. The word Spring from the same stamp set, other words from Power of the Word (754) and Bird from Follow your own Path (563).

It has to be Spring

Morning everyone, a new challenge at Allsorts and my turn to choose the theme, so being totally transparent there could only be one for this time of year 'It has to be Spring' - well I've never made any secret it's my favourite season.

No hospital procedures, cancelled again, long story and I'll explode if I start to explain. Instead I've succumbed to a Crohn's flare along with a UTI, so not feeling my best.

Your probably all fed up with seeing these Highlight/TRR Daffodils but promise this is the last one....for a while anyway. They are the last batch from all those I cut and decoupaged back at Christmas, it's a fairly large tall DL base, an oval die used to cut out the partial aperture and the blooms arranged. A coordinating sheet of MCS rice paper and a really old Tattered Lace sentiment which is actually on the inside of the card although it's not apparent,  I should really have taken a second photo of the card open.

Another using the Crocus (624) from AALL and Create, stamped into a masked oxide panel, stamped and then the flower head stamped a second time onto inky card, cut out on the S&C and a strip of washi tape to ground the flower.

Many thanks for your kind visits and words of encouragement, always much appreciated.

Springtime in Paris

Morning everyone, we have new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where our themes are Spring and Anything Goes plus a Spring Mood Board so basically Spring all the way. Lovely prizes as always, stamps and stencils from AALL and Create and a £25 store voucher from Crafty Individuals. 

Above a tri-fold card with an acetate and Oxide splodged background with lots of AALL and Create stamps, Crocus (624), Violet (574), Elegant Spring Florals (623) plus Seasons (455) and Mouse (811). All of the images including the tiny Birdie and Mice were cut out on the Scan and Cut after stamping onto inked cardstock. 

Here's the mood board for Stamping Sensations....

I've gone with Paris, Blossoms, Pinks and a Bird. The backing is from MCS printed onto rice paper and the blossoms Penny Black At Grace repeat stamped using the platform and again cut out on the Scan and Cut, as I've said before, invaluable whilst I've one hand/arm not working properly, but hopefully to be sorted this week (see below).

A simple Spring tag following the colours and Daisy in the mood board using AALL and Create Tag it Yourself die set (27) and Flower Trio (924) onto a brayered and crackle paste background.

Below just one more for the new Path of Positivity challenge, sentiment from my Believe stamp set which I always find inspiring, guess I would say that wouldn't I, but good value with ten different inspirational quotes for £16.99 from Stamp Addicts here or Create and Craft. All other stamps are AALL and Create A5 set Just Grow (270) on offer at £7.60 (usually £18.99) and numbers from Grunge Alphabet (397) also A5 and £18.99. Flowers are paper pieced using inky offcuts onto an inky background created with oxides and acetate.

I won't be round to visit for a day or two, eventually I'm going into hospital for the January cancelled spinal, cervical and occipital nerve blocks and radiofrequency albation. Hopefully relief from some of the pain and mobility issues plus almost daily migraines (my body's built up antibodies to Emgality injections, they had been a miracle for a few years, dropping migraines from 20 to 5 or 6 days a month). It's a PM list so may be overnight and then a day or two recovery and rest,  but I'll catch up with you all very soon.

Animals for National Pet Awareness month

Morning everyone (this is a long one!). April is: National Pet Month (NPM) celebrates and raises awareness of responsible pet ownership. So Lorraine's theme 'For the love of Animals' at Allsorts challenge this week is most appropriate. Prizes come from Highlight Crafts and Stamp Addicts.

The scene above uses a fence stamp I bought in the US years ago when I was lucky enough to be invited to attend CHA (now Creativation) but afraid I've long since forgotten the make, teamed up with Inkylicious trees, Horses from Bee Crafty and a few Lavinia's thrown in as well. The dimension of the Horses suggest they are Heskey and Penelope, so guess Merlin was off across the paddock somewhere! A large masked sun and stencilled sunrays and Pan Pastels used for all colouring.

The Path of Positivity challenge is back in action so I would like to add the above card, that sentiment always seem positive to me.

A few more celebrating domestic animals, there were recent samples for Create and Craft TV using their latest in house die and USB release.

They are called 'Over the edge Animals', the idea that they do just that. The entire collection including USB and dies were (at time of writing this post) on special offer £35.99 for members and £39.99 non members here.

One final share, a few days late I'll confess with my April Card Chain Challenge share which went to Gail in Norway. I guess it also fits into our Allsorts theme with the Cockerel, as I had (now Fox'd, his own fault as he insisted on sleeping on one of the horses backs ready for an early morning start) one called Freddie. All stamps AALL and Create.

Have a good week everyone and my thanks as always for your visits.

Snippets (maybe)

Hello Peeps, I've a card to share for the new Snippets Playground challenge, it's a bit tenuous as to use of snippets, only Misses Di and Sarn can decide or if I'm headed for the naughty corner.

AALL and Create have some beautiful Washi Tapes and there will be special collections launching on Create and Craft at 6pm and shows again tomorrow. The DT have all been busy making cards showcasing how it's possible to create the focal element of a card using just the tapes. Patterns repeat about every meter and basically you tear off strips and match them up, you do end up with quite a few oddments (snippets?) but with perseverance you can use those to create yet another card as I have done above (these were all left over from the original one I made using that design). The random torn edges are all part of the technique to give a less formal feel.

The easel card inner circle. was a leftover from another project and the Butterfly and words stamped onto offcuts. 

Hope everyone has had a good Easter and even saw a little bit of sunshine.

Rudolph Days

 

Hello Peeps, the March Rudolph Days challenge is underway so I have a card to share which I actually manage to complete, stamping as well (using the platform mind you). Taken me all morning but happy to eventually get one decent card under my belt.

Not too much to say about it really other than Lavinia stamps, versafine inks to create the snowflake circle and Pan Pastels for the moon and grounding and of course glitter.

Believe in tomorrow

Morning everyone, we have a two week challenge at Allsorts to accommodate the Easter break. Our theme as chosen by Sarah is 'Keep it Simple. Prized come from Highlight Crafts and Stamp Addicts, as this challenge straddles two months prizes will fall into our draw on April 26th. 

A clean and simple card with a stencilled background, vase is a really old stamp and no idea of the make, stamped cut out and over stamped with AALL and Create Quill Ends (908) and the focal flowers from Woodland (661) again as usual recently stamped then cut out on the Scan and Cut. The sentiment is from my own Believe set. And an envie to match.

Another made quite a time ago but never used, a Gelli Plate circle, the flower Clocks and Flowers (558) and birdies from Blackbird (530). Will admit I'm not sure which set the wording is form other than it's in one of the A&C drawers.

Secret Fairy village

Morning everyone, it's mid month time at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where our themes are Feminine and Spring, along with the option of AG with your stamped element. Fabulous prizes, from Lavinia Stamps and AALL and Create.

Above an inky background and stencilling with crackle paste, a vase from AALL and Create Containers (401) and Daffodils from Elegant Spring Florals (623) all stamped on the platform and cut out on the Scan and Cut - since my left arm/hand went AWAL I've found the machine invaluable. A few fill in flowers and Squirrel from Highlight/TRR and some washi tape.

My SS share as with my one earlier in the month uses lots of Lavinia stamps to create the secret Fairy village which you can find at the end of my garden, like all of us I imagine? The Fairies are busy going about their daily routines including doing the washing and a bit of weeding along the path as the animals watch on.

A few shares of my recent Highlight Crafts makes for last weeks Create and Craft One Day special of MCS Floral Extravaganza. There's so much on this USB and if you love flowers and vibrancy as much I do, then an absolute delight.

I've not really been able to manage any new DT makes for weeks, however bored to tears (aka utterly frustrated) I decided to try and diversify. DT's are required to use Premium Pure Print card (which they supply I might add), its an amazing product and you have to compare print colour against that on a normal card to appreciate the difference

So I always keep part sheets with no printing and scale images in MCS to fit the left over pieces (see below) print and send to the Scan and Cut which cuts them out ready to go. Surprisingly it's then relatively easy with 1.5 hands to design the base cards in Canvas Workspace right down to apertures, again using left over half sheets and let the S&C do most of the work. I was able to arrange the elements and came up with a few presentable cards. I am hoping my part sheets will count as snippets and will pop the above card over to the the Snippets Playground (the word was also cut from oddments of Bazzil)

And my homework complete....

Have a good week everyone.

Fur, Feathers and a Butterfly

Morning Peeps, our new challenge at Allsorts starts today with the theme of Fur and/or Feathers as selected by Ellie. Prizes this month come from Craftstash and AALL and Create and will be drawn on Friday 22nd March.

Two shares, above my favourite Fox from AALL and Creates A4 stamp set In the Wild (529), stamped and just the flowers coloured, stencilling using Digits Checked (110), only a small stencil but so useful which I use over and again. Words from Power of the Word (754) stamped onto black card and embossed with white EP.

This was a Stamp Addicts TV sample using one of the new Terri Sherman stamps, this one Sparrows, as you can see a bit of artistic licence with the colours as my Sparrows turned into Greenfinches! Card base made with Tattered Lace dies and for the background crackle texture paste and a leaf stencil. The birds all cut on the Scan and Cut which I'm finding really useful for cutting stamped images since my left hand and arm went AWAL. The sentiment was one of several released with the birds.

Now for my Butterfly Challenge card, the letter this time is 'D for Decoupage' and I was immediately inspired by that and the colours. So I have incorporated Daffodil, Dairy Cream, Delft Blue and Dark Green from the colour options, die cuts and of course my Butterfly.

I have a huge bag of ready decoupaged Daffodils from my January Flower of the Month Highlight Crafts samples, in hindsight I've no idea why I prepared so many, I literally cut out every printed Reflection they sent so had excess to requirements.

I used MCS/Canvas Workspace/Scan and Cut to create the base layers including apertures and with the Daffodils ready cut and decoupaged so it was just a matter of adding a piece of acetate and arranging the flowers. A few TRR Lily of the Valley, again ready cut to bring in some blue, ribbon,  Butterfly which is AALL and Create ephemera and a die cut word.

The Clematis Armandii is just breaking into flower (looks a bit shadowed as took the photos at 6.30am before the sun rose) and looking and smelling glorious, it straddles a fence and garden seat and looks lovely both sides. On the left you can see a Magnolia which is now intermingled with it.

As always my appreciation for your kind visits and words of encouragement.