Rudolph Days and Snippets

Note added: my post was already scheduled for today so adding a very sad note to say that we lost Holly yesterday, she had a couple of really bad days and went downhill fast so that awful decision was inevitable. My office/craft room seems so empty, she has been an integral part of of it for thirteen years, we were joined at the hip and I 'discussed' most projects with her so missing her dreadfully.

Both taken in late September, she loved going out in the car and also laying in the sun, here in front of the garden cabin. Her body suits became an integral part of her to protect the tumour wound which returned within weeks of the op in August and likely spread inside creating the vomiting issues the last week or so. Marcello our Vet has been wonderfully supportive, losing three of our girls this year has been so hard and he's been there every step of the way, at the end of the phone and delivering meds, rare in this day and age.

It's time for another challenge at Rudolph Days as we head close to the big day. My card uses stamps from Lavinia's new Faelight Chronicles collection along with Toad Lodge where the two mice are heading for afternoon tea with the Fairies, plus a few worker stamps across the bottom. Lots of sparkle on the icicles and red stickles berries on the trees. As mentioned, lots of glitter and it's All that Glitters as Fab and Funky, so entering there and also Ellies Festive Christmas and Everyday Art have Bling and Glitter as their theme and hope my Mice are cute enough for Cardz 4 Gals. At Fab and Funky would like gold, silver or glitter, I'm going with the last as I love a bit of sparkle on seasonal cards and it's Christmas at CRAFT as well.

Clearly my head is anywhere but in the right place as I forgot to add my card made for the Snippets Playground. I had just one piece of the dark green mirri card so cut the circle from the middle of the mat before layering up and adding the stencilled holly which is a Sweet Poppy stencil. The focal sentiment is from my own Christmas Season stamp set. Snippets below.

Lets get sentimental

Good morning to you all, we have a new challenge at Allsorts and Helen has selected the theme of Sentiment in Focus. We have a lovely prize from Sweet Poppy.

Weeks ago when Helen selected her theme I knew exactly which focal stamp I would use, it's been a favourite wood mounted Penny Black stamp for many years called Dance, Sing, Love, 2695J which as far as I can tell about 25 years old dating to 2000/1. The floral corner is Penny Black 40-588 Blossom Branch. I would like to enter this one in Ellies current Garden Party and Make your Mark challenges.

Another favourite PB oldie also wood mounted is Hope is Born 3227K (2011 collection) along with another outing for the Spin tool using Elements and Clair inks, Lavinia Holly and Mistletoe to create a simple wreath design. I am linking this one to Word Power, Ellies Festive Christmas, Get ready for Christmas at Try it on Tuesday, Farmquest Country Christmas and The Holly and Ivy challenges.

Holly update as so many have been very kind asking, she's been brighter the last couple of days and tolerating food, we think possibly a bout of pancreatitis which she did have once before and maybe nothing to do with the cancer/tumour. So a low fat and fibre diet of chicken breast, venison and rabbit (visit to a local game butcher) and mashed potato. 

Winter Berries, shy Jay's and flocks of Swans

Apologies to my teams that I'm late posting, post was prepped days ago but somehow I put it into draft and with rather a lot going on didn't realise. Holly, my right hand girl has deteriorated quickly this week, Vet who did the op in August assures me she's not in pain, her tail wags as much as ever and she wants food but can't keep it down, it's heartbreaking getting to 'that' decision.

It's the 18th of the month so mid way inspiration at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations with Christmas themes at both. 

Above a fairly new to me Penny Black stamps, the sentiment wood mounted, nice that some can still be sourced (Buddly Crafts), a masked frame with some soft stencilling and the focal image inked direct to stamp using Ecoline pens. I would like to link up with this one at Craftalicious's optional Christmas traditional colours and Farmquest Christmas.

My one make of the week, yep still very slow going as I'm far from out of the woods yet and due in hospital for treatment in a few days. It's for one of our Son's and wife who love garden birds and especially Robins so an easy choice. All stamps, stencil and masks are Lavinia. I used snippets to stamp the Robins and vase a second time to paper piece so popping to the Playground. Added crackle glaze to the vase. I've not used the colours of the inspiration at Beautiful Blossoms but do have a bouquet of flowers.

Above my snippets.

Finally another Penny Black stamp, pretty CAS for me, stamped coloured and cut into three and a die cut sentiment. Linking this one to 12 months of Christmas.

I made the above especially for Jo's Just Add Antlers theme at Christmas Kickstart and really though I had added to a post and entered, on checking clearly not, so better late than never. The pine branch is AALL and Create and all other stamps are Lavinia, Versafine Clair inks and Pan Pastels for the shading. Run Rudolph is the song title at Christmas Cards All Year Round, my Reindeer is a rather serious fellow but hope he fits. Aud Sentiments option is Christmas/Glitter and sentiment, the berries are sparkly as is the snow on the trees.

Jay's are so pretty but very shy, we know we've had them living in a hedgerow for years but rarely see them. But the other day parents and juveniles were all out feeding on the carpet of acorns under the big Oak, I wasn't quick enough to get a photo of all together but did manage some individually (taken through the kitchen window on phone so not that clear).

A good number of Swans spend Summer on the Fen drains and this time of year gather before heading up to Welney Wash where they Winter. The first picture a distant shot just up the Drove and the second another flock on a field in front of the house.

Winter's Butterfly

Hello all, seems I prepared the challenge post and totally forgot one for my own blog, so for speed I've grabbed the content from that with just a few additions. Our mid month inspiration at Tag-Along (and ATC's) challenge follows Pinky's 'Add some Texture' theme which also has the usual Anything Goes option.

We want to let you know about a change which is that in future Bookmarks will also be accepted as entries. We often see them entered and most look so similar to Tags that going forward we will welcome them as entries.

My tag above has lots of stencilled sparkly textural snowflakes but the sparkle just doesn't show up in the photo I'm afraid. The Butterflies are A&C and the sentiment many years old, no idea of the make as the writing on the wood has worn off. Just us Girls has Winter as it's word, so linking up there and also Word Power with the focal sentiment.

My ATC has a inky background and texture paste brickwork, some TL die cut flowers and the little couple of sweeties are TH ephemera, don't you just love his suite? Would like to enter the above at Creative Artiste Mixed Media and as there are flowers, Ellies current Garden Party.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Peace and Joy

Good morning to you all, a new challenge at Allsorts where Christine has selected the theme of Christmas Cards along with the usual Anything Goes option. We have a selection of stamps and dies as prizes.

My scene above uses Lavinia stamps, Briana looking up at one the Small Robins sitting in the falling snow atop Street Light. In the background Fir Tree repeat stamped and Winter Berries in the foreground. The word Peace from Seasonal Words. I would like to enter Creative Knockouts Time to be Merry and Holly and Ivy, also Christmas Card Throwdown has a colour palette which I think this fits.

This one uses the new Fealight Chronicles release from Lavinia along with a few older stamps to build the scene and an entry to this months Snow Flurry challenge. Would like to enter this one at A Place to Start and Craft Rocket Christmas/Winter at Unicorn challenge.

Finally, a last minute dash to the Snippets Playground with the above ATC which I intended using during October and actually made several weeks ago specifically, then with all the medical activity it got forgotten. Snippets to stamp and cut out the leaves, sentiment and Butterfly which has a coat of crackle glaze although not very clear on my photo. I would like to link up to Creative Artiste Mixed Media.

Winter Robins and Mice

First my thanks for all your kind messages, nothing new to report as tests ongoing, being greedy having four autoimmune conditions it's a bit of a complex cocktail. I'm hoping I might feel up to some proper crafting and blogging very soon. 

Today sees new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where we seem to have Christmas as the theme at both!  Prizes from Stamp Addicts at SS and an assortment of Christmas themed stamps and dies at WLS.

Above a mixture of Lavinia and AALL and Create stamps featuring Bobby and Jemima, the Robins that seem to be favourites with lots of us, entering at Peace on Earth ad Jingle Bells (snow) November challenges.

Using several stamps from the new Fealight Chronicles release, my one finished card of the week - along with a full waste bin. Linking to Country Christmas at Heartsquest challenge and think the little 'Meece" will fit in at Crafty Animals and Critter Crazy.

Another Christmas wreath I'm afraid, this one pre spin tool so not quite as symmetrical as I might like, all stamps are Lavinia and Versafine Clair inks. Girlz Creative have a new challenge which is always Christmas and it's the same theme at CRAFT.

Finally, today is reveal day for the October Card Chain Challenge, this is the card I sent to Wendy in Ireland following the colour option, Fairy, Trees and Glitter. Sparkles challenge has an Autumn theme as does Four Seasons and at Dragonfly Dreams the November theme is Feminie and another for the Autumnal palette at Colour Dare.

Tags and Stags

As explained the other day, short scheduled posts, this one for the start of new challenges at Tag-Along (and ATC's) where Pinky would like to see some texture, Moving Along With The Times with a Winter Wonderland theme and by default I'd agreed to help out at Love to Craft and had a card made ready for the A/G theme.

My tag uses TH ephemera, AALL and Create flowers and Butterfly, texture paste and harlequin stencil which is stamped over with text. I would like to enter at the Outlawz Card Free Zone, Creative Artiste mixed media, Colour Dare with shades of orange and Heartsquest shapes cards and tags.

The Penguins are A&C, stamped, cut out and just a little colour, inked background with sparkle texture paste snowflakes stencilled. I've just been alerted that ATC's Around the World would like to see Penguins!

My MAWTT share uses a mixture of stamps from Penny Black, Lavinia and my own Christmas Season stamp set, soft ink blending for the background and lots of sparkly snow.

Finally, for Love to Craft a festive wreath using Lavinia stamps and stencil. The 12 Months of Christmas has a new challenge, this is for the A/G option.

Christmas Mouse

Hello everyone, as some know I've been struggling with a few new heath issues recently which are being investigated, as a result my mojo has been MIA for a while. So I feel the need to take a craft break for a week or two. 

I've scheduled several posts but like this one most are a tad light on content as my time on the computer has been limited so please forgive if I missed/miss one or two posts.

The new Faelight Chronicles have been sitting on my desk for a while but because of several hospital visits they remained un-inked, but as I was awake at silly o'clock this morning made myself sit down and stamp. Above the result, not really satisfied but I didn't want to miss Rudolph Days.

Swallowtail Butterfly

Good morning, it's my turn to choose the theme this time round at Allsorts and it's a seasonal one of Autumn along with the usual Anything Goes option. Our prizes comes from Stamp Addicts and Simon Says.

A fairly simple card using Stamp Addicts Swallow Tail Butterfly, stamped twice onto vellum, stamped Lavinia leaves and some soft stencilling.

And a second one made a few weeks ago using several Lavinia stamps with a Halloween feel. 

Bumble Lodge

Morning all, a week fraught with frustration, iMac crashed, luckily the Genius Bar guys managed to recover some info to load into a new machine but takes so long, especially when your not firing on all cylinders. On a positive note an almost instant referral starting with Iron Infusion in a few days, then another consultant later in week to try and stabilise my Pernicious and associated issues. I'm told the infusion will make me very tired initially, but realistically can't be worse than recent weeks, I've collapsed a couple of times so need to get sorted. So it will be blogging and crafting if and when.

It's the 18th of the month which means mid way inspiration at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where we have Autumn themes at both. Prizes come from Lavinia Stamps and Personal Impressions.

As with my last post, with the exception of the last share, everything is from my 'just in case' archives. Above a little forest scene using Lavinia Bumble Lodge, Creeping Vine, Wild Summer Flower, Orchard Grass, Slender Mushrooms, Fairy Path, the large Fairy is unfortunately long since retired but remains a favourite. Cards4Galz have the theme For a Little Girl, think Fairies fit the bill.

For this one an Autumnal wreath (made before I became addicted to my new Sizzix Spin and Stamp) using Ecoline pens direct to stamp which are Tim Holtz Leaf Prints and Sketchy Leaves. Words are A&C. The theme at Card Concept is Autumn Days and it's also Autumn at the Unicorn Challenge.

Tim Holtz leaf stamps again and inked in the same way as above, words from same source. Card4Guys would like to see Autumn card so linking up there.

And I also have a card for Jo's Snow Alert theme at Christmas Kickstart challenge and it's also a Christmas theme at Simon Say's Wednesday challenge and Farmquest Christmas.

A pretty simple little snow scene with some of my favourite Lavinia Hares from Whimscal Hares small and large out in the snow, looking in wonder at the North Star. Trees are Red Pine and at the top Christmas Mistletoe.

One final share for Beautiful Blossoms challenge, this is a new make using my new Spin and Stamp, Lavinia stamps and focal Penny Black quote, they have a lovely Autumn photo for inspiration, I've tried to carry the oranges and blue. Focal Sentiments are the requirement at Word Power so linking up there.

Nutty Squirrel

Morning all, it's mid way time at Tag-Along (and ATC's) challenge, like most of what I've shared recently they are not recent makes. No secret I work well ahead, my MS 'just in case' policy and recently it's proved a logical way of working as Mr Mojo has been missing.

My tag above uses AALL and Create Intricatags, the two little ones are from a pack of TH ephemera, flowers also A&C stamped, coloured and cut out and some crackle texture paste spots with Autumnal coloured twines. I am linking at Heartsquest shaped cards and tags.

My ATC is a grungy creation, A&C background stamps, a piece of finely ridged corrugated, leaves using A&C Crunched Leafdrop and Leafinately Detailed matching stamp and die set, currently on offer as a set for £21.99. Pearly Sparkles would like Autumn Leaves and it's Autumn at Try it on Tuesday and at the Outlawz Songs and Rhymes poem, red and gold and crunchy leaves popped out at me.

Another made weeks ago, my share for the Snippets Playground challenge and Ellies latest Garden Party (I know she has Squirrels in her garden) Stamps are Visible Image and come with matching dies, I used a stencil to add some brickwork and then stamped, coloured and cut the Squirrel, acorns and leaves. A few stamped grasses and flowers which are Lavinia and sentiment from the same stamp set. Aud Sentiments would also like to see Autumnal makes and I reckon this little chap will fit in at Fab 'n Funky and Simon Say's Monday challenge is Add some Text. 

Did remember a photo of my snippets as when making thought it would be a good fit for the Playground.

As mentioned above not been many new makes recently, my dexterity is deteriorating along with vision so stamping's getting more challenging. Eye's not helped by unstable glucose, same Brittle Diabetes as my Dad, it can dip from 24 to 4 in minutes and back again. All in all been rather poorly, had lots of tests yesterday and have urgent hospital referral.

Last week I'd decided to try and give my mojo a boost. I've been convincing myself for months I didn't need a Sizzix Stamp and Spin tool, but discovered that I really, really did. Amazon had the best price by far along with the matching Stencil and Stamp Tool, although I have the TH platform or LH Ultimate neither are compatible with the Spin. 

I've had such fun using it and the bin's not getting constantly filled with inky bodge ups as has been the case. Being very fond of a floral, Christmas or leafy wreath it's absolutely perfect for creating them with real precision, above pretty simple but I've lots of ideas now I've had an initial play. I would like to enter the above into the Unicorn Challenge Autumn theme,

It works equally well for a symmetrical design as with this one below stamped onto an old Gelli background, it's so quick, I was amazed at the speed I was able to create these. I would like to enter the one below to Creations in Pink.

Have a good Tuesday everyone.