Deep in the Forest and Rudolph Days

Good morning, I'll start by apologising for the lack of visits, during a few days visiting one of our Son's and DIL on the Sussex coast, I became unwell with a Crohn's flare up resulting in visits to the local ACU. As it's a three hour journey our return had to be delayed, I had planned doing some short comments on my tablet (usually use a desktop) but Blogger had other ideas.

So onto our new theme chosen by Sarah at Allsorts which is 'Woodland Critters". We have stamp from Lavinia Stamps for two lucky winners. In addition to the Lavinia prizes we will have a few random spot prizes to celebrate World Animal Day which is October 4th and fits in so nicely with this fortnights theme.

Not absolutely sure Badgers are considered critters but they certainly live in woodland so I've used both Badgers meeting up on a cold frosty morning in the forest. The Tree Stem has been repeat stamped and in the background Gate and Fence, some worker stamps and berries and a flock of Ducks heading to the pond in the next field (imagination working overtime again!). Double D's theme is Make your Own Background, as is the requirement at The Male Room so linking up to both.

As I go down this post writing it up it occurs it all rather 'blue', just how it's turned out, not intended. My second card uses Forest Scene which is in the prize bundle, stamped twice in Versafine Twilight over a masked moon, some shadow added and in the foreground Gideon the Fox. Think this would be suitable for a male so entering at Crafty Chicks Masculine theme. At Time Out challenge it's Pick Two, I've selected monochrome and Season (Winter). Creative Moments challenges would like to se trees, several in the one above.

Finally a share for this months Rudolph Days challenge, however, I'm not sure if will be eligible as the photo is of three, one of the sets of cards made a while ago for the RSPCA charity shop in March, don't have a photo of just one. If that's not allowed Helen, please delete, I will totally understand. Stamps are Penny Black and Pheasants A&C.

Dream

Morning all, it's mid month inspiration time at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where our themes are 'Make it Cute' as chosen by Mervi and CAS as selected by Helen. Prizes are House Mouse stamps from Oakwood and stamp sets from Grafton Crafts.

Above another Colorado Crafts image, one of a very few cute stamps I own, it's called Lots of Love, stamped coloured and cut out with the coordinating die and placed onto a background scene created with various Lavinia stamps. Double D has the theme 'Make your own background' which is what I did here as per usual. As you like it  challenge asks for favourite dies and why, well they are not something I use that often but as mentioned below I've set myself the challenge to use more. These are a recent purchase and I'm rather enjoying them and made a good few cards with them. 

I've used a Penny Black stamps called Lustrous, inked with Ecoline pens, stamped twice then one cut to give four sections to place over the base image. The sentiment is also Penny Black called Life, both a good ten or more years old. I've just been to Ellie's blog and this seems to fit her new I Spy CAS theme nicely and also Beautiful Blossoms.

Above is my Snippets Playground share, a few weeks back I set myself to challenge to be more adventurous with dies, whilst I did lots with them for TRR/Highlight that was much easier as they all have reflections artwork with them so no worry about dreaded colouring in.  Above the results using new Penny Black and Spellbinder dies, OK'ish but way outside my comfort zone. I scored the white panel and ran an inkpad down to carry the colour of the embossed panel, stamped a sentiment then arranged the die cuts. Afraid I forgot a photo, so keen was I to clear up and move on to some stamping! But I will admit it was a great way to use up lots of small pieces of Bazzil cardstock which I've been hoarding for far too long.

Butterflies and Birdies

Morning Peeps, time's caught me out again as almost forgot my mid month share for Tag-Along (and ATC's) where we are following Lynn's Wings theme along with the AG option.

I created my aperture tag by cutting two tags then using a shaped die to create the centre panel, brayers two colours of Oxide on both, then stamped A&C Butterfly border stamp, sadly now discontinued, raised the second tag on foam tape. Stamped a few birdie also A&C and a couple more stamped and cut out on the Scan and Cut and seam binding. Entering at Hearts Quest shaped card and tags and the Card Free Zone. Layering up is the theme at Simon Say's Wednesday challenge, it's not something I do that often so hope there's enough on this one.

For my ATC, Lavinia Bumblehums masking the stamo to get just three and Wild Poppies, a piece of dies cut honeycomb, some twine and sticker sentiment and a tiny matching envie. Entering this at ATC's around the World challenge.

Pink Maple leaves

Good morning, our new theme selected by Val at Allsorts is Trees, Leaves and Plants along with the usual Anything Goes. We have some stamp sets to be won this time round.

A fairly CAS card for me, the top section of the front panel was masked and Lavinia Maple Leaf stamped repeatedly. Soft inking along the bottom line then a wide and narrow tip glue pen run along the edge and Cadence Gilding Tilsen brushed over, it's not cheap but really does last forever, had mine for 2/3 years and still looks hardly used. Sentiment stamped in the same Versafine Glamorous is from my own Moments stamp set, available mounted or unmounted via the link. As You Like It current challenge is Layered or Flat, has to be the latter for me as it fits my scenic preference style. Also Creations in Pink.

A second one again using Maple Leaves inked in Autumnal colours, along with the smaller version of Gideon the Fox which is a set of two, Rue the Fairy hanging from the branches, Leaf Spray and mini Mushrooms. This one is also for the current Lavinia challenge of Enchanted Forest, I was a a lucky girl as their random generator picked one of my Sunflower cards to win the £40 prize, I'm on a roll as last month I won $25 at Simon Say's. Ellies new Garden Challenge started this week, the Maple, Fox and Fairy can all be found in our garden, although you sometimes have to look hard for the Fairies! Also Hearts Quest Fantasy, the colours also fit AAA Colourful.

We've had a lovely display of Thistles in the wildlife meadow and the Bees love them, grabbed this photo the other day on a wander round the headland.

A fabulous crop of Quince this year, still quite a lot of growing to do until harvest time mid October when they can weight half a pound or more each as pretty solid fruit. Then it's what to do with them, only so much Quince Jelly you can make and give to every visitor, I've tried mixing with apples and other fruit for pies and crumbles but they are pretty tasteless. Any suggestions on other uses please share or click (here) to arrange Evri delivery by the barrow load!!

Gift Exchange and The Blood Moon

Morning all, time for our new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations. At WLS our theme is 'Make it Cute as chosen by Mervi and we have some House Mouse stamps from Oakwood to be won, at SS Helen has selected CAS as our theme where prizes come from Grafton Crafts.

Above I've used Colorado Crafts Gift Exchange, first time with their stamps, bought this and another set, I thought they would appeal to Margo as she loves anything with animals. The tree is Lavinia as are the flowers to build up the scene for the focal pair of cuties.

The focal flower is from Visible Image plus a little extra stamping using worker stamps, the flower stamped, coloured and die cut with a section of the flower outside the panel. A Birthday sentiment from a set sourced at Amazon and matching envie. The Alphabet challenge has the them of CAS as do Sparkles challenge, so would like to enter both. 

It's funny how some things go full circle, back in 2009 a lady who used to travel miles to come to my classes called Laurie (aka Designer Diva) was one of the DT's at Moving Along with the Times challenge and through her I was invited to join the team. However Allsorts had started just a couple of month earlier, craft challenges were a whole new ball game back then so I decline at the prospect of creating for two......how things change! 

Here we are sixteen years later (and much older in the tooth), Helen has taken over from Wendy to run the challenge and invited me to join. This time I said yes and above is my share for the current challenge of Butterflies and/or Dragonflies which started a few days ago. I was late to the party, but work will be posted on 1st of the month in future. Colour Dare challenge has a colour duo which this seems to fit perfectly and Ellie's I Spy is Sunny Colours this time, looks sunny'ish to me.

The Butterfly is Visible Image, repeat stamped with three colours of Element inks, the sentiment from same set as above and a splattering of gold Frantage which had a long overdue outing.

Couldn't resist a photo of last night's Blood Moon, it was a lovely clear evening at dusk as it rose over the top paddock.

Agapanthus Cluster

Morning all, time for our September challenge at Tag-Along (and ATC's) where Lynn has chosen the theme of Things with Wings and as usual there's the Anything Goes option as well. We have another lovely set of tag shaped dies to give away to the months lucky winner and as always the three of us will each choose our favourite from the months entries.

I've made a tag with a little pocket using an oddment of MCS DP on the pocket, some A&C words and birdie to the front along with a PB Butterfly, a real old wood mounted stamp. On the tag some random stamped script and Stampendous Agapanthus Cluster P107, my all time favourite stamp. Literally everything on the tag and pocket were from my snippets rack although I don't have photos I'm afraid, but will share over at the Playground ready for the new term starting this week. Would also like to enter at The Outlawz Card Free Zone and Aud Sentiments who would like to see Tag or Thank You + Sentiment.

My ATC made it's way to New Zealand. A few weeks ago our friend, the one who was killed on his way home from us last month, had his Daughter over from NZ where she's lived for 15 years. She wasn't due to come untill Autumn but decided to bring her travel dates forward, we are all so pleased she did, now she's back again to sort her Dad's things and spending time with us.

She had never heard of ATC's so I showed her my collection and she asked if she could choose one to take home, the above was her choice. Given what happened soon after she went back to NZ, it now seems so appropriate that she chose one with a Butterfly.

Stampers Anonymous stitching stamped round the edges of the inked ATC, an A&C Butterfly and sentiment and little envie to match plus a few pearls.

Also sharing my card for the Card Chain Challenge, it went to Jo and followed the colours Fuchsia, Tangerine and Violet and took the hexagon shape from the sketch. All stamps from Lavinia's new Twilight Tea collection.

Here's our one and only Agapanthus (more coming). Some will remember we planted a special garden where we buried our Poppy Dog in May. Uncultivated land, where she used to enjoy mooching under the trees, but with so many wild rabbits it's like Watership Down so limited which plants are 'rabbit proof'ish'. After some research went with Agapanthus, Digitalis, African Daisies, Geraniums along with a Rose youngest son bought to remember her, there were already lots of self set Oriental Poppies which will bloom again next year. 

Given how dry the Summer has been things have been slow to establish, but quite encouraging to see most have taken and growing, even a second showing of pink Digitalis.

It would be lovely if you could join us this month, even if tags and ATC's are not your thing we would love you to give it a go, several entrants have dabbled into them for the first time and become quite addicted.