Lady in Red

Morning everyone, a rather hurried post as clearly the heats addled my mind!

I thought this card for the Card Cain Challenge was in my post at the weekend and hadn't even realised it wasn't until checking a couple of scheduled posts and found it in one for 18th, so sorry Gail and Jo. My card went to Joanne in the UK and I received one from Arlene in the USA.

I used AALL and Create base dies and image called Art of Bouquet simply stamped in back and coloured to follow the colour options of Black and White plus One. Linking to Unicorn Challenge, no DP's.

I also have one for Christmas Kickstart challenge who have the theme Grace us with your Presents, had to think long and hard about this one as the A&C stamp is about the only one I have to fit the present element, then remembered this in my unused folder, think it fits the bill using A&C Sack of Joy. Stamped, coloured, lots of sparkle and some stencilled stars. Just happens to fit Fab'n'Funky's new Christmas in July theme and Creative Knockouts Christmas in July. Also Stencils/Patterns at Crazy is our Fame.

Try and keep cool, not easy in the current ongoing heat.

Basques, blossoms and a snake!

Morning everyone, time for our new challenge at Tag-Along (and ATC's) where it's my turn to choose the theme which is Favourite Colours. 

After choosing the theme I wondered at the wisdom as I love using most colours, but with me it's perhaps more colour palettes such as above, I love purple and green together and here I've used Lavinia's new Loomweavers collection along with some older stamps onto a background brayered with Clair inks.

Purples with pinks for the above, Lavinia Cherry Blossom, it's one of my very first Lavinia stamps way back about 2008, it's just beginning to crack so probably time to replace. Birds are Magpies and Bluebell (I know they're pink!), sticker words and again a brayered background. Chris has selected Something with B as her theme at Fab 'n' Funky, I have Blossoms, Birds and Bow and Try it in Tuesday In the Garden.

I had in mind to see if something as small as an ATC coin could be stamped on the spin tool, it does work, so a simple little make using two Lavinia mini stamps with stencilled leaves in the middle finished with a sticker sentiment.

I also have a bookmark, when I got the go ahead for some limited computer and craft time I thought they would be less taxing projects so made a few. This one uses an A&C stamp, a lightly brayered background, little Butterflies and another tassel from the bundle I found a while back.

Not a great deal of change in available flora, the Roses are still enjoying the warm weather and above the first Snake of the season picked up when poo picking the other day (for those not familiar with keeping horses, an essential daily task to keep pasture clean). It's only a youngster but not my favourite creatures. 

The Hemerocallis (Day Lily) below struggled initially with the dry weather but is picking up now.

Timeless Poppy

 

Hello all, a non scheduled post, but still several scheduled ones in the pipeline till normal service resumes.

From my files for Snippets Playground, Gelli Plate background, Penny Black Poppy, Lavinia script, Butterfly A&C and photo below of my snippet. Also adding to Try it on Tuesday's Circles and backgrounds for Little Red Wagon.

Things were going well, then a kidney, followed by diverticular infections kicked in which was always a risk. But just got the OK for up to hour a day computer/crafting time to test the water with another MRI and consult next week, so prioritising is going to be a challenge but hope to do a few short blog visits.

Here's a few photos of what's in bloom this week.

Potentilla with Bee collecting nectar, below yesterday there were 37 Poppies in bloom, but couldn't get all in the photo angle, as they continue round the tree, it's a spectacular year for them.

Below, Pyracantha, Peony and first of many to come Lupin's.

Huge Rose, as big as my hand.

Thank you all for your continued visits during my absence, they are so appreciated.

Birthday celebrations and Poppies are blooming

Knowing my crafty wings would be clipped for some time, I'm preparing this well ahead for our special challenge at Allsorts where Lynn is our host to celebrate our 17th Birthday, sobering wondering where all those years went. But it's wonderful that so many entrants who joined us way back then still do so, that makes it all seem very worthwhile.

We have some fabulous prizes of vouchers and physical goodies from Lavinia Stamps, Buddly Crafts, Art Impressions, Highlight Crafts as well as some surprise goody bags. Plus don't forget the special discount from AALL and Create of 15% until 31st May on all items in their store using the special code: AllsortsBD17

My first share at the top uses Lavinia Meadowbrook Tales, the new collection released last month. I did all the stamping first, masked the focal images, then created the background by simply brushing watered down Oxides. Colouring done with a mixture of pencils and Zig pens and some white pen to highlight here and there.

I found this frame along with a few others from a session when I had the sewing machine out, so used the red as my inspiration. AALL and Create have a new designer Soizic, this image from her is called Art of Bouquet, her designs have a lovely quirky feel, stamped very simply in black and limited red added with a Zig pen and a couple of sticker words.

Added by DIL Friday 22nd: A couple of the early Roses and first Oriental Poppies in our little Poppies garden, plus it seems a Lab's bum, both Rosa and Fleur spend time there, it's as thought they know.

And a message of thanks for the beautiful cards and messages received. It's slow going as now have a kidney infection, but was never going to be straightforward!

We really hope you will join us for this very special challenge, as always you can enter up to five times so lots of chances of winning one of those super prizes.

Quinn and Oona

Scheduled post! It's mid way inspiration day at Tag-Along (and ATC's) where we are following Pinky's theme of 'Add some Pink'. 

An easy ask as I tend to use pink rather a lot, above my tag which is AALL and Create Tag it Yourself, the Fairy releasing a kaleidoscope of Flutterblies is Quinn sitting under the Flowers which are dies from Amazon coloured with DI's. Oxides and Pan Pastels for the background.

My ATC features Lavinia Oona, one of their older Fairy stamps chatting away to the birdie sitting in the bushes. The background was created with a piece of card cut at a gradient/partial circle, DI's dusted over the edges moving upwards after each inking to get the fan effect.... start from the bottom and work up, otherwise you can't see where you've inked....how do I know!

A reminder in case you missed it, as a run in to Allsorts 17th Birthday on 23rd May, AALL and Create are offering a discount of 15% valid from 1st May through 31st May on all items in their store plus free shipping on orders over £39.99. Your code is: AllsortsBD17.

Monochromatic at Allsorts

Morning to you all, at Allsorts Liz is our host with them of Monochromatic and we have Creative Expressions stamps and stencils to give away. Also need to give you a heads about our next challenge, the logo below tells you all and it would be lovely if you shared to help us spread the word. And.......AALL and Create are offering a discount of 15% valid from 1st May through 31st May on all items in their store plus free shipping on orders over £39.99. Your code is: AllsortsBD17.

At the top a new'ish make and below one from the archive files. Using the spin tool and Lavina Fairy Catkins which is one of my favourite sets as the different sized stamps work really well to build up a wreath. I filled in with smaller stamps and used various colours of Versafine Clair. The Fairy is Lumus blowing fairy dust towards the Tree Scene in the distance. Sweet Stampin' have a new theme Things with Wings, so a Birdie and Fairy should work.

Made literally ages ago using AALL and Create stamps, focal image stamped first, stencilling around the edges, sentiments and birdie also A&C. Just Add Ink asks for stencils/ink/dies, I have the first two.

I have an op date! It's this Tuesday so will be MIA for a time, may just be a week or so maybe longer very much depends how it goes. Several posts scheduled but I won't be round commenting for a little while.

Olive among the Flowers

Note added: Tentatively posting this as had blogger issues, Google/Blogger have been very helpful and thought issue was solved but apparently not. I'm not getting any notification on my reading list when you post so my visits will be hit and miss, likewise seems I'm not on your lists.

Morning all, new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations. Also a heads up that AALL and Create are offering a 15% discount throughout May to celebrate Allsorts 17th Birthday, the code is on the challenge blog here. 

There's an animal thing going on and at WLS Pinky has selected All Creatures Great and Small with a prize from AALL and Create and at Stamping Sensations Anesha has selected Cute Animals with a prize from Highlight Crafts.

Many of you will have seen the announcement at Stamping Sensations on Friday, but for those who missed it the challenge is closing and the May one will be our last. It was a very tough decision having started it in April 2010, but as lots know I've not been at my best the last few months and after a further MRI last week seems surgery to pin my cervical spine is inevitable. So sadly Stamping Sensations is closing and I've also left my DT spots at MAWTT and Love to Craft. We Love Stamping, Allsorts and Tag-Along (and ATC's) will continue as usual.

Above a card I've made fort Granddaughter-in law's Birthday coming up shortly, she not into craft and blogs so safe to post. Masked the side, used AALL and Create Mans Best Friend which is perfect as they have a black Lab called Olive, A&C's new Starfall Rays stencil along with the top of a Lavinia Tree and Wild Flowers, the sentiment from the latest release is perfect as her name is Faith.

One from my files made with a ready inked background when I was experimenting with the then new Spin tool. Lavinia Honeysuckle, a few extra leaves and Minni and Moo dancing to the Music.

Finally my CCC card which went to Madja in Slovinia and I received one in lovely sunny colours from Kathy in the UK. Using the spin tool and Lavinia mini stamps I created a partial wreath, sponged the requisite colours of Peony, White and Leaf, Long Ears in the form of my Favourite Hare Lupin looking up at the Birdie, Spring colours and word from A&C.

I'll leave you with the garden this week and Thursday/Friday's awesome moon, starting with Ceanothus, followed by Phothinias (Red Robin), White Iris, Wisteria and that moon.

And to finish yet another clear up of cones, there's a never ending supply and the girls (Labs) spend hours watching them drop then charge about distributing them all over the garden. We load into the trailer then use the tractor mower to take to the fire heap, they burn well!

Have a good Sunday.

Flora and Fauna

Morning all, a quick post with a couple of shares. First up one for the Snippets Playground, it's actually a new card, took me a couple of days but reasonably happy with it, the die cuttings the easy part, the stampings the challenge at the moment.

A triptych using a new die set from Maximum crafts, I'm a real sucker for arch shaped cards so when Lynn used this one I had to have it. It's smaller than the other's I have so perfect to use up offcuts. The stamps used are Lavinia Sunflower, Honeysuckle and Chinese Lanterns, coloured with Zig pens and Lavinia sticker sentiments. Also linking to Aud Sentiments Spring/sentiment, Beautiful Blossoms ,Ellies Garden Party and Art Nudge 426A.

Here's my snippets, was nice to use up some of the panels left after cutting card blanks from A3 card (hubby's job currently).

There's a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday with the theme of Numbers, I found the perfect card hidden away in my A&C folder using one of their DL stamps, sadly now discontinued, I made this sometime last year but un-blogged.

Edges are just DI's and water and splodged on with acetate, coloured the image with the same DI's, a few added numbers and letters which are also A&C as is the little Mouse and words, the Butterfly stamped and coloured a second time to decoupage and matching envie. Adding to Creative Aunts Circles theme and Neglected Stuff - old discontinued stamp, Hand Stamped Sentiments has a colour palette, it's not clear if you need to use all three, I've got rust and green but not blue, so please delete if not eligible.