A chat in the garden

 

Morning all, mid month time at We Love Stamping and Lynn's theme of Summertime along with gorgeous prizes of Lavinia stamps and Gansai Tambi paints. We also have a new challenge at Allsorts where Val is taking us for a visit to the coast, her them is At the Seaside, our prize is a bundle of beach/sea inspired stamps from Stamp Addicts.

Huge apols for rather short/missing comments the last few days, what started as an innocuous accident turned into two days of absurd NHS activity. Bashed my right thumb in the shower, thumbnail lifted and just attached at top. Nail cut back and dressed at surgery who dispatched me to A&E. Without going into details, three hospitals in a day and eventually 10pm last night a very nice young doctor removed it. Hadn't given credit to just how pivotal thumbs are, or what an impediment when bandaged!

Above it's a warm Summer day and Lavinia's Bron and Quinn are having an in depth Fairy chat in the garden. Quinn is sitting in the Swing Bed surrounded by Vine Branch, Leaf Spray, Field Grass and Bluebell, the background 'rays' created with a piece of cut card and shaped to use as a stencil, sponged (working from bottom to top so you can see where you've inked) with Oxides. Linking to Colour Dare 713 as my colours seem to match the requirement, Friendship at Cardz 4 Galz. and Ellies Garden Party 17.

Another new (to me) Andy Skinner stamp, this time called Our Favourite Place. I kept it fairly simple stamping the image of the little girls and colouring with Zig pens then used Oxides to add background colour and simply framed using dies. There's a beach inspired mood board at Just us Girls.

This one started with a watery inky sky using Oxides, then stamped Penny Black Shaded View and colouring added with Pan Pastels and white gel pen.

The Roses and Lilies which smell Divine still giving a good show....

Stencils at Allsorts

Good morning, time for a new challenge at Allsorts where Donna would like us to use Stencils. Prizes are very fittingly an assortment of stencils.

Another using Lavinia's new Loomweavers collection, the skirts and bodies are quite addictive, more so than I expected and I found myself stamping lots onto DP offcuts to mix and match. Stamped the focal elements, coloured and paper pieced the skirt and bodice and stencilled the wall. Cut it Up would like Critters and of course a die cut (base card) and Animals for Craft Rocket.

Above a very sweet pair of little ones, a recent'ish Andy Skinner release which I couldn't resist, as is my norm I made several from the stamps in this purchase so had them ready (just in case). This one called Imagination, stamped, coloured with Zig Clean Colour pens, stencilling for the wall (different one to wall above!) and a few Lavinia flowers and leaves to built the scene.

There's a new kid on the block, this is Aurora 15.1 hh, a four year old Pinto filly, (the black marks on her withers are shadow from the tree, not part of her!) recently covered so hopefully excitement next Spring with a little one! The boys rather enjoy a new girl about the place.

Anything Goes from the Garden at Allsorts

Good morning, here we are again scheduled and time for a new challenge at Allsorts where our theme is Anything Goes from the Garden. We have prizes from Oakwood.

Scheduling this early May and utilising more un-blogged cards in my Penny Black folder, when I have new stamp I tend to have a splurge and make several, a habit which goes back years to when I used to demo at the NEC and other shows/stores when a variety were required to display versatility of a product.

Above using Penny Black Lovely repeat stamped and inked direct to stamp with Ecoline pens, the die is Penny Black Cherish cut at an angle and placed over a stencilled panel and envie to match.

This one also from the files, I made two very similar in different colours and shared the other some time ago. All stamps are Lavinia and include Everlee, Secret Garden, Vine Flourish, Lavender and Flutterby and background a mixture of Oxides and Pan Pastels. Entering this one In the Garden at Give a crafter a cookie and Ellies Garden Party 15.

A few days late, my card for May's Card Chain Challenge where the colour palette was chocolate, orange and slate, luckily I had this in my folder which loosely fitted the colour theme with flowers, one of the options. It went to Greta in the US and I received a lovely sunny floral card from Chris in the US. Focal stamps are Lavinia and include Logan in the centre surrounded by Sunflower Heads.

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.

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.

In the Garden

Morning everyone, we have a new challenge at Allsorts and our theme is In the Garden which has been selected by Gail. Our lucky winners will receive Lavinia stamps.

My card below is from my folder from last year, but I wanted to attempt another using the new Lavinia Meadowbrook Tales collection. Crafting remains very slow with only one fully functioning arm but I can do a little stamping using my TH platform, so with a ready cut and inked base and panel it was just a matter of stamping and adding some colour. Popping to Ellies Ellies garden party 14 and Sweet Stampin’ Favourite colours, I love most colours but seem to use purple and pinks a lot. 

A double tag card with lots of magic going on using stamps from one of last years Lavinia collections, Herbalum Ben, Fairy Foragers, Herb Garden, Wheelbarrow, Bench, Seasonal Tree, Vine Branch, Dill and Shrooms, all stamped onto a background which I'm pretty sure is Pan Pastels. Adding to Crafty Gals Spring challenge.

Wings

Another short post, I now believe everything I've ever read about this virus! Lynne chose our new Allsorts theme of Things with Wings, prizes are a $30 Taylored Expressions voucher and A4 stamp set.

Past makes, no crafting for a while and my folders are starting to look bare, a background brayered with Versafine Clair, scored and stencilled, then Indra from Lavinia stamped and coloured with Zig pens, and Let your Spirit. Just add Ink have the theme Just add Wings.

Lavinia stamps again, mostly mini stamps to create a floral wreath, Fairy Couple in the centre and some Butterflies stamped, coloured and cut out and a coat of crackle glaze for texture. Linking to CRAFT Spring theme and the Spring Flowers at The Card Concept and Feminine at and Feminine at Try it on Tuesday.

It's also mid way time at Tag-Along (and ATC's) challenge where we are following Lynn's Spring Flowers theme. Base tag is from A&C, a simple background, literally dragged the edge of two different coloured Oxides across, then stamped the blossoms, Bunny and Dandelions which are all Lavinia. Dandelion 's are wild so adding to Alphabet Challenge.  

A few more Two Red Robin Highlight Crafts Daffodils, these were flower of the month way back and came in an assortment of sizes, the two little Hares are AALL and Create.

Flutterbys for Allsorts

Morning all, Val has selected the theme at Allsorts this time round, it's Embossing dry or wet, or as always theres the A/G option and a super prize of matching embossing folder and stencils from Lisa Horton Crafts. It's also mid way time at Tag-Along (and ATC's) where we are following Pinky's Add a Number theme.

In a crafty clear out I found a pack of A5 frames so used one to create the card above, an inky offcut stamped over with an A&C background stamp and heat embossed with detail white, then two Butterflies which are also A&C stamped onto vellum, again heat embossed, coloured on the reverse and cut out. I am sure Ellie has Butterflies in her garden so adding to her Garden Party 12 and Sweet Stampin' no DP theme.

For my second share I used Lisa Horton Sunflower and Roses bundle (die, EF and layering stencils) and Versafine Clair inks. The base is a really old TL honeycomb die which I placed behind an arch frame, the lilac behind that is a real rarity for me, a 12x12 sheet of DP from a pad I was gifted and the sentiment from my Moments stamp set, available mounted or unmounted. I would like to enter this one at: Can you handle the Pressure (EF and dies), Addicted to Stamps, Craft Rocket and Girls Creative challenges.

My tag above uses a retired A&C set, stamped with Versamark onto black card and brushed over with several colours of mica powder. The clocks were stamped again, coloured in the same way and fixed with twine to hang from the word, also A&C. Adding this at Hearts Quest Tags.

I seem to have two ATC's both using old A&C stamps, the first onto a Gelli Plate offcut, the flower stamped with Versafine Clair, another number stamped then and a bow tied across. The Nuthatch stamped onto another inky offcut, the little feet come in the same set but looking at it now not too sure they look like feet!

Serenity

Good morning everyone, this week at Allsorts Donna has selected the theme of 'Create your own background' and as always theres the A/G option. Our prizes are a set of background stamps from AALL and Create.

I have used a Visible Image stamp called Calm over Chaos which I stamped with Clair black and then used two different stencils and Clair inks to create the background. The words come from the same stamp set as does the Cherry Blossom across the top. Time Out asks for favourite techniques, mine has always been stamping and with my own background along with inspirational quotes, finally another for the Stencil Challenge.

This was my first make using Mutifarious card. I was happy to have the opportunity to try it out and have to say I'm pretty impressed, it's 350gsm and seems to take everything you throw at it without any warp. And the very best part for me as I usually cut all my own stamping pieces from A3 or A4 cardstock, is it comes in a variety of ready cut sizes in packs of 20.  

And an ATC using A&C Ephemera Floral Confetti and Enchanting Larking rub on's over an inked offcut. 

Am making a last minute dash to Rudolph Days challenge. A floral wreath onto a Gelli Plate background using the Spin tool, several Lavinia Mini stamps, Holly, Clair inks and a Penny Black sentiment. In a tidy up after Christmas I found a box under a spare bed ....sure I'm not alone in spreading craft all over the house! I'm pretty sure the contents are pre-Covid when I used to run regular classes and among other things it contained several dozen sheets of one sided pearlescent card. It's not something I use these days so used the white side to made a whole pile of backgrounds, this being one of those. It's a (tentative) circle for Fab n Funky, plus Jingle Bells have an inspirational photo, mine came from the Christmas Tree colours and branches and also linking to C.R.A.F.T Christmas

Boys and Men

Good morning everyone, this week at Allsorts Ellie would like to see creations suitable for 'Boys and Men', along with the usual A/G alternative. We have two lovely stamps from Sweet Poppy to give away this time round.

For the above card I used Sweet Poppy Stencils Oval Aperture stencil which I inked through to create an outline, then stamped Rocky Waterside a Stampscapes stamp available from Sweet Poppy, they sell a good range of them. I added a little more colour to the landscape, Lavinia tree and Fox, the sentiment an oldie from Penny Black. Cardz4galz would like to see a Countryscape and AAA Birthday a Winter Birthday and think it's fits at Farmquest.

For the second share, fairly CAS and very quick to create using Sweet Poppy Tall Window stencil which I inked through in aqua and yellow, then stamped a little scene inside using Inkylicious birds and Two Jays scenic stamps. Crafters Cafe have the theme One for the Boys

Winter Robin

Good morning to you all, our first challenge of the New Year at Allsorts and Helen has selected the theme of Winter Animals. We have a prize of Christmas Robin stamp and matching dies, in fact exactly the same as what I've used above from Visible Image.

I used a Lavinia tree and twigs to build up the snowy scene, stamped some Holly into the tree, then stamped, coloured and cut out the Robin and large Holly using offcuts raised on foam pads to finish the Winter scene. The word Winter is AALL and Create.

A second share using Penny Black Woodland Pair, I kept the card very simple as it's such a beautifully detailed image, an inky background to set the scene and the image stamped and placed inside an arched card and aperture.