Shaped cards and yet more blossoms

Morning to you all, a new challenge at Allsorts where Christine has selected the theme of shapes cards, so anything but square. The prizes this time round are AALL and Create goodies.

Scheduled as usual as all going to plan we will be in the Cotswolds for the wedding of another Granddaughter, Annabel, she loved the location so entire family heading off miles across the UK!!

I was lucky to get early access to the March A&C release and love the funky fashion icons designed by Soizic, this one Sirens of Spring paired with Drawing in Air. An old triptych die, coloured with Zig pens, the middle panel a really old wood mounted PB stamp How to Fly. This was a card for a crafty friend who had a special Birthday this week. Entering this one as Bright at As you like it and Flowers for Girlz Rebel.

This an older make, crafting remains slow one armed, will update shortly but declined surgery this week (wedding so not an option!). Die base is A&C Heart Marks the Spot, a stencilled background in fresh yellows and the image (which hubby say's is a "very sad" one) is Andy Skinner I'll be your Umbrella, the sentiment comes from the same set. Just us girls would like Stencils and Crafters Cafe no squares.

One more as it's 25th of the month which means a new Rudolph Days challenge. It's a very simple one from my files using TH dies and Lisa Horton embossing folder.

I'll leave you with a few of this weeks garden photos, first the Cowslips in the far paddock, it's never grazed until they have flowered. They are special to me as I transplanted from one of Dad's fields where I used to pick them as a child, they are slow to establish but spread a bit more each year and now a few patches of them scattered about.

Clematis Montana and an early flowering Horse Chestnut, this one close to the Cowslips. Those on the tree I shared last week are a week or so behind this one.

Can you spot the rear end of a Lab above?

Sorry to be repetitive but I do so love Spring.

It's Springtime at Allsorts

Morning everyone, over at Allsorts we have a new challenge where it's my turn to choose the theme and there could only be one, It's Springtime', my favourite season. We have two beautiful Penny Black Stamps to give away from Buddly Crafts.

A shortish post again (explanation below) and a card I made weeks ago, an adaptation of a vertical three panel design on Pinterest. Masked four panels, brushed ink in different colours and with the masking still in place stamped Penny Black Daffodil Dance, Dazzle, At Grace and Gentle Whisper, inked direct to stamp using Ecoline pens and A&C word. Adding at Colour Dare 696, Spring at Creative Knockouts and Sweet Stampin', finally Spring Flowers at Card Concept.

Now the new Meadowbrook Tales collections from Lavinia which is gorgeous. But confess the above was a struggle (full bin) and far from happy with it. The stamps have been sitting on my desk and promised I would get at least one made for today, but with one arm dysfunctional stamping's difficult. Adding to Four legged friends at Fab 'n Funky and Star Stampz, Spring at Try it on Tuesday.

It's also Rudolph Day's time so a simple design using a Gelli Plate background, the Spin tool, Versafine Clair and Lavinia stamps, glitter and a white gel pen. I've loads of background prepared so for now the spin tool may be my best best friend as it's easier than conventional stamping.

Last week I mentioned referral for an MRI, it happened quickly followed by an Orthopedic consultant who told me I need surgery to pin my upper spine. It's a biggie, long recovery time and high infection risk for the immune compromised so something I need to have a really long hard think about. For weeks crafting has been difficult due to arm pain and spasms so gripping with my left hand's an issue, likewise typing, hence short posts and comments on your blogs, I'll still be doing it all, it's what keeps me going but may be limited in content. 

But on a positive note Spring does seem to have arrived, the clocks go forward tonight so lighter evenings to watch the flora and wildlife in the garden and I do hope Spring will inspire you to join in my new theme at Allsorts.

Bright and sunny Daffodils

Good morning everyone, we have a new challenge at Allsorts today where Sarah has selected the theme of add Ribbon or a Bow. We have some pretty ribbons, stamps and stencils to give away plus for another winner a digital download from Polkadoodles.

Will confess ribbon's are not something I use often these days although doesn't mean I don't have plenty, but the most use they gets these days is plaiting manes for shows, so Sarah's theme was a good opportunity to rummage. 

Daffodils were an obvious choice for a bright sunny card, I have big bag of TRR Spring flowers all cut out and decoupaged ready from my time on their team. In fact the only cutting I had to do was the base layer using the matching outline border die. Some soft stencilling on the background, stamped the A&C words and two ribbons down the edge. Entering Pick 3, Flowers, bright colours, embellishment (ribbons), Fab and Funky Dies and Punches and As you like it Fav colour and why (I love creating with any bright colour, but find yellow so cheery and seems to appear frequently on my makes).

A favourite Andy Skinner stamp called Best Friends, sunray's using a stencil and texture paste, some colouring, sentiment from the same set and remember buying the ribbon years ago in Worthing when visiting one of our Son's and DIL. Hope my Sunshine fits Simon Says Monday Whatever the Weather and Just us Girls Stencils.

We have a new Rudolph Days challenge and being February it's a very short timescale so popping over with the above card using my favourite Lavinia Christmas Fairy Starr, Holly and Winter Berries. Also entering entering ABC Christmas  C for Crimson and StarStampz Fantasy.  

Ribbon and Twin at Allsorts

Morning Peeps, at Allsorts this week Liz would like us to use Ribbons and/or Twine. We have a lovely prize of a Sizzix die set from Craft Stash. This coming Friday will see our monthly winners announcement but this month a twist as we will be giving away some extra prizes, our Christmas gift to our loyal entrants.

The background of the above card was a mop up from my spray box (recycled from an Amazon delivery), I always keep a sheet of corrugated in the bottom for this very purpose, after spraying I dab offcuts to pick up the ink and lovely textures. I stamped AALL and Create Leaves onto the piece, foraged some dry foliage from the garden and tied with twine, a button, word and birdie, very quick and easy. I am hopping over to the challenge at the Path of Positivity with this, only a short quote but one I often use on cards for youngsters.

This one uses a Penny Black set called Foliage Fantasy which I fear may well be discontinued as I found nothing in my search. They are two part stamps, the outline and a second one with the veins. I used a white brilliance ink pad for the silhouette image onto black cardstock, then versafine and embossing powders for second stamping of the veins. A strip of vellum with a sentiment from my Moments set, button and twine.

Textures Florals

Morning everyone, it's Saturday and time for a new challenge at Allsorts where this week Lorraine is our host with the theme of Add some Texture along with the usual the A/G option. This months fabulous bundle of prizes come from Stamp Addicts, Oakwood, Highlight Crafts, Ruth Hamilton Dedsign, AALL and Create and Craft Stash.

It's a rather long post so a cuppa or glass dependent on time of day might be called for!!

A heads up for the AALL and Create fans out there, lots of new goodies coming next week to celebrate their 7th Birthday with a preview show on C&C at 12 noon Monday 16th where you can see all the new stamps from Antour, Tracy, Bipasha and Janet.

My texture above comes in the form of acrylic and gesso on the Gelli Plate background which does have lots of texture but not really evident on the photo. Then a bit of a play on words with Textured Florals from AALL and Create which were stamped onto inked offcuts and cut out. Two white circles with some stamping and a little Birdie along with a couple of sentiments and splats of white Posca.

Electronic die cutting machines (yes a sort of review): In my experience most have a down side, with my Switch it's the plates which warp quickly, expensive to replace (a year in and on my third set) and intricate dies usually need two runs through. The Big Shot is great and replaced it last year after ten years, but the size can be restrictive.  

But, the new Pro Cut A4 electronic machine which landed in my craft room recently thanks to Highlight Crafts seems to be the exception and so far I'm really impressed. I've only ever said that once before and that was my e.bosser which expired least year after more than ten years of good service, sadly no longer available.

I left it a while to see how the Pro Cut performed before I gave it the thumbs up (or down) but so far would recommend and the price is competitive as well, plus it's shape is far more compact than the Switch which is a bulky piece of kit. I don't know the secret with the plates on the Pro Cut but they are still as flat as new after some really heavy work. And a big bonus everything cuts perfectly, detailed dies as well with just one run through.

So now I'm able to cut collections so much quicker with two on the go at once......well that's the plan, so long as I'm quick enough to keep up with them. All I have to remember is to put the dies the right way up and not cut through the magnetic shim......yes done that already, I used to do the same with the e.bosser, the Switch doesn't have one and that just might be the difference in performance.

I've been pretty under pressure with TV samples the last few weeks and not much time to play, so this was a nice diversion. I saw a link on a blog which in turn sent me to YouTube and then another and typically I can no longer find it, but think I got the gist of the technique.

Basically you 'splodge'.... technical term......colour onto watercolour card which is first spritzed with water as this helps the ink distribute and beak down the fibres. The videos I watched used distress re-inkers, I only have two colours, a green and pink so added some yellow Dylusions, but probably not enough contrast of colour. Once dry you ink the debossed side (indents, I always get this one confused) of an embossing folder with Versafine Clair nocturne, place the coloured side facing the black ink and run through a die cutter. I did a re-ink of black and ran through a second time. I then made a second one using the same folder, will share next week. 

Then remembered I had several colours of Oxide mica sprays and the one below was used for that, however it was much harder to get a solid back finish as the mica spreads, but still quite effective.

Have a good weekend all.

 

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Believe with your heart....

Morning Peeps, at Allsorts this week Pauline has chosen the theme of 'Add a sentiment' and we have a super prize from Oakwood of a set of sentiment stamps and coordinating paper pad.

Above I have incorporated one my new inspirational quotes (cut into strips using a piece of masking tape to stamp each line) from my Believe stamp set being launched along with another new set on Create and Craft TV on 19th. There are a few old favourites but I have re-arranged those into more usable formats and fonts.

The image is an older AALL and Create stamp set called Daisy Elegance onto a Gelli Plate mop up so fairly subtle, the image is pretty large, I guess A5 as it's one of just two on the the A4 set, added some colour with my newish Distress Pencils and also a pink birdie....artistic licence!

My second card uses the October stamp release on Create and Craft called In Safe Hands and Think Big, I just love these hands designed by Tina and made several with them, here's a few more.

Happy weekend all.

 

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Monochromatic

Morning to you all, at Allsorts this week Lolo is our host with the theme of 'A/G with a option of Monochromatic' and a prize of tickets to Crafting Live and also lovely dies, both from Highlight Crafts.

For this weekend only there's free Worldwide shipping at Highlight here, plus an additional  10% discount if you use code BRENDA10 at checkout.

I've gone all green for the one above using an AALL and Create border stamp called Poppy Seedheads, a brayered background using Versafine Clair and stamped the image with the same ink, some added stamped numbers, Birdie and sentiment, again all using the same ink.

I struggled a tad getting a decent photo of my Highlight Crafts sample as despite it all appearing to be shades of purple in real life the photos tells a different story and all sorts of shades seem to be coming through including green glitter which is honestly isn't, so your going to have to trust me on this one. The sentiment is from my Moments inspirational stamp set launching on Create and Craft TV next week.

And before I go, one of this weeks Two Red Robin samples.

Much as I love my stamping, I really do enjoy creating with these dies, I can lost myself as I build up the fantasy scenes.

Thanks so much for your continued visits and words of encouragement, they mean a lot.

 

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Garden delights

Saturday morning so that must mean time for a new challenge at Allsorts and this week Lynn had chosen the theme of 'Gardeners Delight' with the chance to win a lovely Stampendous stamp set from Oakwood Direct plus a stencil

Above we're down in the veg patch with a variety of carrots, think they call them Heritage, sure my Dad would have said what's wrong with the normal orange ones. Anyhows, an Oxide background, the carrot stamp is one of two really large ones on AALL and Create Seeds of Hope, some extra background stamping using Shattered and I just love these two little Rabbits from Miniature's as they seem to be permanent fixtures in most veg gardens.

A second using an image from Ruth Hamilton Design who is one of this weeks sponsors offering three images from her site, Sunflowers, stencilling in the background, washi tape and one of my own sentiments from my Moments set available at Create and Craft and here.

And as I'm an Oakwood DT I had better share a couple using Stampendous stamps for recent Create and Craft TV shows, this one called Treehouse Post onto a mottled Oxide background which was a mop up piece, the second one is House Mouse Painted Pansies and shock horror I had to do a bit of colouring.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

 

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Peonies, Poppies and a few photos

Morning to you all, we are returning to normal again at Allsorts having carried our themes forward a couple of weeks following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Ellie is our host and would like to see 'Spots and Stripes'. Our lucky winner will receive dies and tickets to Crafting Live at Peterborough on 22/23 October from Highlight Crafts. The show promises to be a really good one with a bumper number of exhibitors lined up. 

I have used Vintage Inc Peony and Laced to Perfection from Highlight Crafts, the stamps are available individually or as part of two special offer collections. If you are new to this brand and also Two Red Robins dies, I can promise you that the quality is excellent, as are all things out of the stable of Steph Weightman. 

Those tempted by the stamps or indeed anything on the Highlight website (with exception machinery) you can use my code BRENDA10 to obtain a 10% discount.

This one uses Poppy Perfection from the new Hedgerows collection along with Poppies from earlier collections, link below. The spots are subtle but are there to tie in with this weeks theme. The sentiment is from my Believe stamp set available from Create and Craft or direct here.

Above our eldest son centre surrounded by his Home Office team before the service at the Abbey on Monday. Having been one of those involved in the planning of arrangements in recent years and then when Her Majesty died, he was invited to be part of the Ceremonial Presence at her funeral, something he said was a tremendous honour. They look so smart in their Dress uniforms as indeed did all the UK Services who took part.

And Miss Margo this week in the saddle on Penelope, she's now twelve months old and apparently loving the experience. It's never too young to start!

Penelope seems to be turning out to be a god buy, at only six years old I was sceptical if her schooling was as good as the breeder claimed, but so far she seems pretty bombproof and is showing nicely in hand and picked up a couple of placings the last few weeks.

Have a good weekend and my thanks as aways for your kind visits and words of encouragement.

 

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Christmas in a heatwave

Morning Peeps, no Allsorts post today as the current challenge is running for two weeks with the chance to win a £15 WOWVOW voucher.  

It's Zachary and Faith's wedding tomorrow, the weather is set to be glorious and momentum and excitement is gathering. As mentioned, mobility remains as issue but had a visit (shock horror) from the GP this week and he has prescribed morphine patches to help with my pain, so I am hopeful this will ease movement somewhat.......after all I need to be agile enough to grab the next glass of bubbles to stave off dehydration. Will share photos in my next post on 18th.

So instead of Allsorts shares I have a couple using some  new Highlight Crafts Two Red Robins goodies. I have a discount voucher (BRENDA10) if you are tempted to treat yourself on their website......just add at checkout.

Also a heads up that the Crafting Live show at Peterborough promises to be a sell out with a bumper number of exhibitors, you can book now here.

The new A Frosted Eve USB launched on Create and Craft last evening and I have used one of the backing scenes from the USB along with other new dies from the A Frosted Eve collection. I adore the background scene with Santa, it comes in a landscape and portrait option.

To create the semi wreath I used A Festive Posey and of course a couple of Robins from the same collection. The sentiment is from one of my own sets released on Create and Craft last month and can be purchased from Stamp Addicts here. Further down a sneak peek of two more of my sets just released which will showcase on C&C in the next Stamp Addict show.

One more not shared on my blog as yet using more of the same collection along with Deer to My Heart, aren't they adorable little creatures.

My new sentiments and inspirational quotes, a few old favourites and some new ones as well, for whatever reason the photos are blurry but I promise the stamped images are clean and crisp.

And they go rather nicely with these which are new and now available from Stamp Addicts and will also feature in the same C&C programmes.

No samples made with them yet, but will share soon.

Enjoy the sunshine and keep cool.

 

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