Squirrel among the acorns

Morning all, it's mid way time at We Love Stamping with our seasonal theme is Shades of Autumn. We have two prizes of stamps and stencil from Sweet Poppy.

The spin tool came out for this one to build the wreath using Lavinia Oak Leaves, Squirrel and Birds plus a few mini worker stamps. The word is AALL and Create and leaves coloured with Gansia Tambi metallic pains and a touch of red Zig pen dragged out with the watercolours, irl there is actually some nice shine and sparkle. I've selected Bird, Brown and Leaves as my three for Pick 3 challenge and Add an Animal at Cards4Galz and another one for Ellies Garden Party as I know she has Squirrels in her garden!

My share for the current Snippets Playground challenge, all flowers, leaves and sentiment tag were cut from a little pile of card left over from apertures cut for a bundle of similar design RSPCA animal cards. The dies are a mixture of Sizzix and Amazon and the DL frame a really old set of which I have absolutely no idea of the make. 

Although I tend to stamp most cards, this batch uses stickers which Miss Di suggested (thanks Di, they are perfect) and my subsequent find was some beautiful Retrievers and Horses at Amazon which are fully trimmed and a decent size for a 7x7 card (one below). I leave most without a sentiment which allows more flexibility of use.

I get so much pleasure from making donation cards for the RSPCA and although many are Animal themed, they always tell me Fairies and rural scenic ones are equally popular. Selling at £3.50 - £5.00 each the few hundred I give over the year bring in a few pennies for their much needed work. Last week I delivered 80 Christmas cards made over the year, some individual, some in packs of four. I'm currently working on new ones with some rather stylish Lavinia Hares (watch this space) and will drop a few over to them shortly.

Cut it Up

Good morning, I was very happy to be invited to be a Guest Designer at Cut it Up Challenge and above is my card for their Pretty in Pink challenge which starts today, thank you for the invitation. 

The base card was created with a favourite from AALL and Create Heart Marks the Spot and the focal image their Art of Bouquet stamped with Versafine Clair, coloured with Zig pens and some light stencilling in the background. A simple sticker sentiment from a TH book. Linking to Think Pink at Simon Say's Monday.

Also sharing another entered at Lavinia's Withcing Hour using stamps from their recent fun Midnight Coven collection, the background is a mixture of Mica sprays and Pan Pastels and all stamping using Versafine Clair. Also entering this at the new Dream Factory Halloween theme and Fab 'n' Funky (3 gravestones!!) and Try it on Tuesday, Black Ravens at Shopping our Stash.

Sybella's away

Morning everyone, it's mid way inspiration time at Tag-Along (and ATC's) challenge with the theme of Autumn. Our prize this month is a Penny Black stamp, stickers and silk ribbon form Buddly Crafts.

I've gone Halloween for both my shares, above a double stand up tag using the new Lavinia Midnight Coven collection plus some worker stamps, the Witch is Sybella. A Pan Pastel background and all stamping in Verafine black plus some stencilling. Adding the above at Lost Coast Halloween, same at Try it on Tuesday, The Witching Hour at Lavinia and Halloween Crafts all Year.

My ATC has an inky background, stencilling with Distress Crackle Glaze through a spider stencil and a number of older Lavinia images. 

If you've not already joined in then I do hope you will find time to do so, you can enter up to four times with Tags, Bookmarks and ATC's. Adding to ATC's Around the World. 

I have one more for The Little Things, just couldn't resist the idea of Halloween pink and Pumpkins, so had fun creating a tag with a number of different stamps and stencils from Lavinia, the base tag is A&C. Adding at If you give a Crafter a Cookie Get Spooky and Halloween at Stamps and Fun.

Fancy folds and Gothic Christmas

Good morning, our new challenge at Allsorts starts today and Liz has selected More Than One Fold for our theme. For our prize there is a useful bundle of craft essentials from Stix2 plus a stamp set.

Above a triptych with three arches cut from Kraft,  stamps are Lavinia Lupin, Logan, Fox and several worker stamps, the leaves at the top AALL and Create and the trailing leaves Penny Black. The theme at Fab 'n Funky is Three of a Kind - three Animals may fit the bill and Critter Crazy, plus Autumn at Make my Monday, Craft Rocket, Daisy Chain and Try it on Tuesday.

Using an old but favourite die set, several of us have this set and want to say it's Studio Light but have to confess I'm not certain as no longer the the packaging. Stamps are again Lavinia Dandelion and Tall Dandelion, Some see a Weed plus workers stamps onto a brayered background. Adding to Ellies new Garden Party, Shaped cards at Di Cut Divas, Girlz Creative and Die Cuts at Do-All Creative.

Now for a challenge in more ways than one. The other day Jo from Christmas Kickstart challenge told me the new theme was Gothic Christmas which she thought that would be my sort of thing, right Jo! Gothic to my mind is not far removed from Stempunk which I always struggle with, so was determined to rise to the bait and above is what I came up with. 

I've had the TH Gothic Arch die for years so cut a stencil then sponged white Pan Pastel's to create the window, next stamped Lavinia Starmoth and Christmas Joy using black ink and embossed with detail white EP (why use back and not Versamark - it shows up better on a dark background to remove excess EP). Two sentiment stickers and stickles. Adding to Holly and Ivy.

Final note of thanks for all the lovely cards received for our special anniversary which I mentioned a couple of posts ago. The children arranged a surprise meal at a favourite Italian restaurant for 22 consisting of us, children and grandchildren and how lovely it was to all be seated at the same table. We had a flypast by The Red Arrows (honestly, the restaurant sits beside the Great River Ouse and they regularly use it as a flightpath to displays and that afternoon just happened to be one of them) and finished off by the arrival of Thea, a baby Great Granddaughter, she went into labour just after the meal, two weeks early!

A tad spooky

Morning all, we have a new challenge starting today at We Love Stamping and our very seasonal theme is Shades of Autumn, no guessing who selected that one! We have two prizes of stamps and stencil from Sweet Poppy.

Above a (rather busy) Autumnal scene using stamps from the new (at least new until later this month!) Lavinia Midnight Coven release along with a few older stamps including Acorn Abode with the little Mouse sitting on it. Brayerd background, all stamped with Versafine Clair plus a bit of shading using DI's. The theme at Crafty Calendar is Autumn/Halloween, also Lost Coast, Two Old Bats and Crafty Animals.

There had to be an Autumn wreath, created on the spin tool stamped onto an inky background, all elements in the wreath are Lavinia inked with inks and ecoline pens, the sentiment from a set sent by a crafty friend and have to confess I don't have the package any more so not sure of the make. Entering this one at the Autumn themes at Colourful Options, Colour Hues, Try it on Tuesday and another for Sweet Stampin'.

With all thew family activity I'm a couple of days late with my share for the Card Chain Challenge, above what I sent to Linda in Minnesota following the colour options along with stencil (this one was very kindly sent to me by a CCC friend who knows how much I love Poppies) and tone on tone ink blending. I received a card with an adorable Hedgie from Alice in Austria.

Fairies Autumn outfit and celebrating a special day!

Morning everyone, we have a new challenge starting today at Tag-Along (and ATC's) challenge and in case some don't know, that also included bookmarks! I am your (very predictable) host with the theme of Autumn. Our prize this month is a Penny Black stamp, stickers and silk ribbon form Buddly Crafts.

My tag above uses stamps from Lavinia's recent Loomweavers collection and AALL and Create base tag, the skirt and bodice cut from DP offcuts and finished with some silk ribbon and twine (some as in prize, it's ivory but colours well with watered down DI's). Another for the Autumn theme at Sweet Stampin' plus Little Red Wagon and Four Seasons.

My trio of ATC's were pretty quick to make as they use  ready cut TRR dies and the bases cut from an inky piece of card in my background drawer. It's always been a habit to have a splurge cutting a good few of each new TRR die to have them ready for use. Being a non colourist (it's my least favourite form of crafting) I appreciate the Reflection artwork. And below a simple Autumnal bookmark using a Penny Black stamp long discontinued. Am entering my ATC's at The Dream Factory Autumn/Fall challenge and the same at ATC's around the World. And entering the bookmark into Outlawz Anything but a Card.

This is a last minute addition to an already scheduled post, I will admit readily I had no intention of mentioning any of this, but one or two close friends as well as family said I was being foolish. I've had a hang up about my age since I was about 30, diagnosed with MS and told my days of activity were numbered etc, etc.......so to hint at my age by admitting that hubby and I are celebrating a special Anniversary has taken some courage on my part. 

I was a child bride in a designer dress and just into what they now call sixth form, he not much older and for whatever reason my parents gave their blessing so obviously most said it wouldn't last. I'll say no more than a card arrived this week from The Palace, apparently they only send them for this Anniversary and upwards! 

I made the card above for hubby, maybe not what some would consider suitable for such an occasion, but we're not into slushy words and when he's not working in his office he's in the garden. He loves yellow flowers, has more pots stacked up than the local garden centre, Robins his favourite Bird and the little Dog at the front so like our little Poopy who we lost last year at 13, he was given her as a puppy for Father's Day. Apart from the A&C background stamping, everything is TRR/Highlight.

There's apparently a 'surprise' gathering this weekend, which of course we know nothing about, to be fair, all we know is get dressed ready to go out! So today to kick things off in suitable fashion with Covid and Flu jabs, but later off to Ely for Afternoon Tea.

Butterfly snippets

Morning all, theres a new challenge at the Snippets Playground where the new term has started so had better get my homework in early.

A messy play creating an inky background, random stamping with A&C stamps and decided to use up some of the long neglected lace idling in the box placing three pieces onto the base and arranged Butterflies all cut using A&C dies. I buy very few DP's as prefer to create my own backgrounds, but I do keep the odds and ends, these ones were left after cutting Fairy dresses for Lavinia stamps a while back. A piece of coordinating thread and sentiment cut from the same offcuts.

And here are my snippets. Also linking to Creative Artiste, Just Add Ink Stencils and Dies, Creative Fingers and We Love 2 Create.

Have a good Sunday everyone.

Autumn Glory

Good morning, time for a new challenge at Allsorts where Christine has selected the very appropriate theme of Anything Autumn. Our prize consists of some beautiful stamps from Buddly Crafts.

The above triptych created using what is probably my oldest and most used arch die set, bought many years ago at a craft show. The two panels were brayered, one cut in half to create a triptych which fold in for posting, stamps inked with Ecoline pens, they are all Penny Black, Flower Lanterns, Natures Paintbrushes, Together and across the top Trailing. Adding to Ellies Garden Part 20, Girlz Creative Splash of colour orange and Sweet Stampin' Autumn.

More PB stamps, not sure I really like this one, was a bit of an experiment embossing onto Kraft with white works well, but colouring with Gansai Tambi metallic paint is a little pale for my linking. This time I used a newer arch set from Maximum Crafts, stamps are Autumn Gala, Soft Wings, many years old but still available and Autumnal Gifts now retired. Entering Crafty Gals Corner Fall Foliage.

My final card entered into the Lavinia challenge Harvest Moon which is just ending, using stamps from their new Midnight Coven collection along with a few worker stamps. A brayerd background and some splatters to finish. Also linking to Carz 4 Galz Fantasy and Inkspirational Fall and Halloween.

Church in the Trees

Morning everyone, it's mid way time at We Love Stamping with Emma's theme of Trees and Leaves. There's some really lovely prizes on offer, a $30 store voucher from Taylored Expressions and Penny a Black stamp set and stencil from Buddly Crafts.

For the above Winter card I used new goodies from Penny Black, a stamp set called Quiet Place to build up the scene, there is also a set of Coordinating Dies, although didn't use for this, a sentiment from Christmas Cheer then shading using DI's and Pan Pastels and some snow and glitter. The frame is cut with Inverted Scallop, one from a recent crafty indulgent at Craft Addiction, great prices! The theme at CRAFT is Christmas.

For this one I first cut the base layers using Penny Black Cherish border die and placed it vertically, then used a Lavinia stencil over the background of the focal piece and stamped Autumn Gala coloured with Zig Clean Colour pens and a sentiment from my own Believe stamp set, available here. Entering this one at Penny Black Saturday Use a Die, Inky Paws Falloween and Time Out Seasonal Colours and Tic Tac Toe (ink blending, free and leaves) and Autumn at Four Seasons.

Poppies, Herbalums and a Squirrel

It's the fourteenth of the month which means mid way time at Tag-Along (and ATC's) where we have Lynn's theme of Circles, can be just one circle or lots! Our prize is a bundle with tag dies, stencil, stickers and twine.

My tag above has a brayered background plus stamping using an A&C worker stamp, a really old TH die to create the circle holes with an inky piece laid beneath, Two Red Robins Poppies, coloured twines and a word sticker. Poppies are Bright so linking 613 Avenue Create, Creative Knockouts Lots of Layers, Just us Girls Bold and Blooms for Triple B, Blooms, Birds or Butterflies.

A set of ATC's, my circles are the sun/moon with a whole host of Lavina stamps which include Herbs and Delights with Pixie Herabalum's gardening and the little Bunnies coming along to eat everything that grows, just as they do in our gardens. Sewing the Seeds of Love by Tears for Fears is my song for A Place to Start and the AG option at The Little Things.

This was my Sunday afternoon experiment for the Snippets Playground, not sure if it worked and certainly far more gold splatters than planned....my left hand and arm remain wonky since surgery and index finger doesn't move anymore, so if I'm not using a stamp platform everything that happens is all rather hit and miss! 

My snippets below shows the middle parts left after cutting apertures for Christmas cards (which will pop up later this week) onto which I stuck snippets of Autumnal (Amazon) DP's onto them and cut out the circles. A brayerd background, random stamping with A&C and Lavinia stamps, then just arranged the circles. Adding at Love Those Pretty Papers.

Wonder if Google will get the reading list issue sorted this week, we live in hope, I'm trying hard to check on those I visit regularly but sure some are falling through the net so apologies if I've missed some visits.

Simple blooms

Good morning, time for a new challenge at Allsorts where Gail is our host with the theme of Sympathy/Thinking of you/Get Well. Our prize is a bundle of dies and artwork from Highlight Crafts. 

Above a card and box with sufficient room to add refresh wipes or hand cream sachets for someone unwell. The hexagon and honeycomb dies are really old Tattered Lace, from when I first started on their DT in February 2015, Two Red Robins and Reflections soon came along and the flowers are from Flower of the Year. All cut out on the Scan and Cut (something I use rarely as have a love hate relationship as eyes not good enough for the small pop up screen). Cut it Up theme is In shape, at Craft Rocket it's Dies and Frame It at Let's Craft and Create.

For my second card I used a mop up from my spray box for the background, the box has a sheet of ribbed card in the bottom and gives some interesting unpredictable patterns, the blooms are a fairly old A&C set called Unfurling Petals and the sentiment is from Penny Black Words of Kindness. The theme is Not Square at Unicorn Challenge and Thinking of you at Aud Sentiments.

From what I've heard most of us are suffering the reading list issue, mine last updated Tuesday so with all the will in the World impossible to remember all the blogs you would normally visit. Blogger seems to lurch from one problem to another the last few months, I blame AI!!

Harmony and Reindeer Games and CCC share

Morning all, we have a new challenge starting today at We Love Stamping where the theme of Tress and Leaves has been selected by Emma. Our lovely prizes are a $30 store voucher from Taylored Expressions and a Penny Black stamp set and stencil from Buddly Crafts.

Above a wreath made on the spin tool using some older Penny Black stamps Natures Gifts and Just Looking, various Versafine Clair inks and a little colouring to create an Autumnal feel using Zig Clean Colour pens. The word in the middle is Lavinia. Entering under A/G at Penny Black Saturday and Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers L for Leaves and Ellies Garden Party 20.

A very simple scene as the two Penny Black stamps Restful and Snowy Village did most of the work. For the background a mixture of Pan Pastels and DI's and sentiment stamp which is also PB. Entering Krafty Chicks Birthday.

Finally one for Christmas Kickstart Reindeer Games, my Lavinia Reindeer is a pretty serious chaps so not really playing any games although the way he's eying up those Fairy Catkins he's perhaps planning tugging them down? Entering at Simon Say's Wednesday Stamp It, Girlz Creative Christmas and Peace on Earth.

Just realised with all that's been going on the last week I totally forgot to share my Card Chain Challenge card, it went to Dagmara in Poland, following the colour palette of pewter, stone and sand along with Mice from the options. I received a really lovely card from Majda in Slovenia.

Thankfully my ocular shingles seems to have settled a little and less painful last few days. Hubby's surgery to rectify what went amiss in what should have been a routine cataract procedure was done very swiftly the following day although had to be followed by a further one yesterday, bonus was whilst he was under they did the cataract in the other eye as well, so fingers crossed all now dealt with.

Going round in circles and a Snippet

Morning everyone, the 1st of September means a new challenge at Tag-Along (and ATC's) where it's Lynn's turn to choose the theme which is Circles. Our prize is a bundle with tag dies, stencil, stickers and twine.

I used Stamperia Desire-Tango ephemera, an impulse buy, as you do! Was pretty simple to make just building up and arranging the various elements on the tag base, my single circle the Amor sentiment. The backing DP is MCS.

An ATC coin with an oxide acetate 'splodged' background, a moon and Lavinia Fairy Catkins along with Pipin the Hare.

Finally a bookmark using Lavinia Blackberry which I felt fitting for September, some circle stencilling on the background and an embossing folder with circles although that's probably not too apparent in the photo. The single word also Lavinia.

Theres a new challenge over at the Snippets Playground and just found this in my files so I can pop over for the start of the new term this week. Afraid no snippet photo but Poppies which are Penny Black as is the die cut word all stamped onto and cut from snippets, wheat stamped in the background with very old HA stamp and heat embossed with gold EP. Try it on Tuesday's new theme is embossing so entering there and Penny Black Saturday under A/G.