Thistles

Morning everyone, it's mid way time at Tag-Along (and ATC's) where Pinky would like us to create Our own Backgrounds (or AG if you prefer), right up my street.

Above a Kraft tag onto which I 'splodged' in no particular way some white acrylic paint using a palette knife. Once dry I used Versafine Acorn to stamp AALL and Create Flower Journey, it's an A4 set with three large images and still available, allowed to dry which took a while took time on acrylic, then added some colour with Zig pens. Some twine for a bow and frayed silk ribbon coloured with a watery DI mix. Adding to Ellies new Garden Party although hoping she doesn't have too many thistles in her garden! Also Girlz Creative brown/purple.

The set of seasonal ATC's utilising some offcuts from an A3 sheet which had been spritzed with Oxide sprays. Stamped some Lavinia Mistletoe across the tops, crackle paste snowflakes which I now realise look distinctly green in the (not so clear) photo, Lavinia stickers and a variety of Highlight TRR Christmas flora. The new Little Things challenge is A/G so entering my ATC's there and hope these are Merry for JUGS and it's Red at Sweet Stampin'

Critters and garden birdies

Morning all, we have a new challenge starting today at We Love Stamping as well Tag-Along (and ATC's). At the first Sarah chose the theme of Christmas Critters and at Tags Pinky would like us to create Our own Backgrounds. Our prize at WLS is a very fitting collection of dies and digital download from Highlight Crafts and at Tags we have a lovely Studio Light tag set from AALL and Create.

When I saw Sarah's theme I knew exactly what I would make using Lavinia's Thistlewhisk and Robin sitting on the Streetlamp along with holly and berries to build the scene. All placed inside Craft Addiction Inverted Scallop frame. And it's snowing, lots of Posca white flicks! Linking to Try it on Tuesday Magical theme, Christmas Card Throwdown Mini Scene/shaped dies and Jingle Bells Not a Creature was Stirring and Christmas Crafts V&W - Wintertime

A second one using Lavinia's new Frost and Fable collection, I've had such fun with this release, the Hares are adorable and for this one a Fairy Forager perched on the front of the cart lighting the way, all inking with Versafine Clair and pastel pencil used to colour the Hare's coat as they seem to work well over black ink. Entering Favourite Christmas Critter (Hare) at As You Like It, Tic Tac Toe (animal, glitter, square) and Critter Crazy (Hare)

A tag within a tag cutting an aperture frame and stencilling sunrays for the background then Lavinia Dandelion, Summer Flower, Leaf Spray, a couple of Butterflies and a sentiment sticker to reflect the background. Linking to Stencils at Little Red Wagon and Outlawz Anything but a card.

The set of ATC's came about by chance when I had been using some TRR/Highlight animals and found a couple left on my desk so out they came again and I used some honeycomb pieces left from another project, same with the ATC bases which were Gelli Plate offcuts and stamping in the background with Penny Black Trailing. It's an A/G theme at ATC's Around the World so entering my set there,

A bookmark with a harlequin stencilled background, Lavinia Leaf Spray again, Sunflower and sentiment stickers and another of the Stamp Addicts tassels I found hidden away and trying to use up.

I also have a few photos which I took sitting watching footie last Sunday afternoon (we won!!), we'd had rain, the ground was wet so there was lots of frantic feeding going on. Above one of the pair of Jays, shy birds but so pretty. Not as clear as I'd like, my camera is rather poorly.

We have both Greater Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, above the former and just a couple of apple trees away the Green popped in for a peck at the bark. The Greater Spotted are far more timid than the Green and get easily scared away by the flash of the camera. 

It was a lovely afternoon of footie and bird watching, I always feel so blessed to see so much wildlife from the comfort of a chair indoors. Further across there were a pair of Moorhens, several Squirrels and just before dusk a Roe Deer wandered in to feed on the fallen Quince's, I wasn't quick enough for a photo of that!

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.

Tag-Along mid month blossoms

We've reached the mid way point of our Blossoms, Butterflies and Birds theme at Tag-Along (and ATC's) challenge. 

My tag above uses Amazon dies for the flowers inked in the middle, crackle paste harlequins rubbed over with some gold gilding, A&C birdie and background stamping finished with a Dragonfly and fibres. There's a new challenge at the Snippets Playground so think this might fit in there as birdie and flowers all cut from snippets (no picture though). Also sharing at Try it on Tuesday who want backgrounds.

Stencilled crackle paste again for my ATC, A&C Butterflies and TRR/Highlight birdie and blossoms, I'm slowly working my way though a drawer full of pre-prepared Highlight goodies from my DT days.

A final tag which fits the theme with Lavinia English Bluebell stamped with Wisteria Purple one of the gorgeous new Clair colours and Ashfoot resting among them gazing at the Dragonfly. The Little Things theme is Rainbows, Sun and Clouds so hopefully fits there.

There's still two weeks left for this months challenge so do come and join us, if you already have how about sharing another, we accept four per entrant and theres a super prize to be won.

All new at Allsorts

Good morning to you all, we have a new challenge at Allsorts where Liz has selected the theme of New - Baby, Home or other new events. We have stamps from AALL and Create to be won.

Above the card I made for eldest Grandson and wife when they moved into their new home, it was in late September so there's a bit of an Autumnal feel to it. Using large letter dies I decided on an eclipse card cutting the letters six times to give height and use a favourite AALL and Create Pinecone stamp which still seems to be available from some stockists, inking direct to stamp with Ecoline pens.

This was one was a sample made months ago when I was still a TRR/Highlight DT, the dies and matching reflections are from the Just in Case collection, a stencilled background and a computer generated sentiment.

One for Christmas Kickstart challenge, I'll confess it was totally inspired by Chris, I've made few cards the last month, with all that's gone on my heads not been in the right place. But I saw Chris's card using her new Card-io stamps and although I don't have the same ones, decided to give the few I did have a long overdue airing.

Snippets and Rudolph

Morning all, a rather swift post as I'm running out of time to join in the current Rudolph Days challenge and as my share also used lots of snippets doubling up and popping to the Snippets Playground.

All products are TRR, I printed part sheets of Reflections to use up smaller pieces of Premium Pure Print, I get lots of leftovers when I print smaller images from MCS. Then die cut them and printed a piece of MCS for the backing. A die cut frame which is Sweet Dixie as is the sentiment and basically everything arranged into the frame. I even remembered a photo of my snippets.

I would also like to share this card at The Holly and Ivy Christmas challenge and Love Those Pretty Papers - using them is rare for me so felt I should!

Have a good weekend everyone, a busy one here as it's youngest Son's Birthday on May the Last (so called when he was small and it's stuck), he's a big boy now but still gets rather excited on his Birthday. Margo assumed we would be playing pass the parcel, well at three I guess it's a forgone conclusion so figure we'll have to fit it in.

Don't forget our Allsorts Birthday challenge is in full swing with some awesome prizes to be won.

Simple blooms

Morning to you all, this week at Allsorts Liz would like to see Sympathy or Get Well cards and of course the Anything Goes option. Prizes come from Craft Stash and Highlight Crafts. We have an important note on this weeks post which we ask all entrants to read.

I've used a MCS background and simply stamped the blooms using mini distress inkpads direct to stamp along with a spritz of water and sentiment which is Penny Black.

Below another simple one again using MCS (Highlight Crafts), image printed twice, oblong dies to cut aperture's on one, foam pads to the back and lined up over the second image and  a few Swarovski gems.

Short post, had shoulder and head nerve blocks Wednesday and back in for the re-scheduled Kidney op Wednesday, such a glamorous life I lead.

Just dream

Morning everyone, a new challenge at Allsorts where Lolo would love to see 'Flowers galore'. Prizes come from Craft Stash, Highlight Crafts and AALL and Create. Also got a couple of photos to share further down, a fun one of the Horses and the Poppies are out!

AALL and Create released a beautiful new collection this week designed by Abs, I'll be honest and say I've declined some of the recent releases as I'm not a colourist and felt I couldn't do them justice. But as this release is floral I was persuaded to give it a go and above one of those samples. I used Best You Ever Had (1176), Bound to Return (1179), Explosive Bombosive (6) and Power of the Word (754).

I would like to enter this into the new Path of Positivity challenge where theres an optional theme of Goals/Dreams. 

In other news, migraines so, so, still there with the odd clear day, but don't think as violent as the last few months so maybe the treatment is doing something to help. I had an interesting 'educational' day yesterday, the consultant I see for Pernicious Anaemia asked me to be the patient in a video for NHS distribution aimed at encouraging GP practices to promote self injection of B12. I'm lucky as the district nurse does mine every six weeks, but many struggle to get one every twelve weeks, my Daughter and eldest Granddaughter included who both have PA, so I'm hopeful the video will help many like them, it affects far more women than men.

I was hesitant as unlike insulin and migraine injections which come in pre loaded pens and pretty easy to administer, this is a standard needle and injection, but first one done and wasn't that bad actually which is just as well as I need to do them every other day for a good few months to try and get on top of all that's going wrong with my body. 

A second one using flowers from a number of MCS collections, all cut on the Scan and Cut and my favourite Penny Black sentiment, the card was for the Birthday of one of our Granddaughter in laws who celebrated her Birthday this week, she loves Autumnal colours.

Anysia decided the Horses needed new facial fly protection, left it with her to choose and this is what we ended up with, not sure they are impressed? Left to right, my big boy Heskey, Merlin and Penelope.

The first Oriental Poppies came into bloom this week, heres one of them....

Have a good weekend everyone.

The Roaring 20's

Morning everyone, a new challenge at Allsorts and Ellie has selected the theme 'Blast from the Past', a real fun one. We have prizes from Stampendous.

I decided the MCS Art Deco ladies would be perfect for the theme and used three along with a border stencil from Sweet Poppy which has a distinct feel of that era. Looking back at fashions over the years, it's this period that I most admire and would love to have sported some of those outfits.

Each image printed out, die cut and mounted onto the base and an envelope to match each of the three cards.

Had a little interlude in hospital on an IV this week due to Crohn's/Diverticulitis issues, scans and tests ongoing.....I like to add variety to life, but no migraine on two days (yahhhhh)! Did manage a little crafting and tried out some of my new Versafine Clair colours, so far my favs have to be Hawthorn Rose which is just gorgeous, not pink, not lilac, somewhere in-between and Artic, I'm not a blue person but it's nice for Christmas cards

Rudolph Days challenge kicks off again today and I was prepared for a change and have this to share. A mixture of Penny Black and Lavinia stamps and I reverted right back to PB days, inked the fence and trees with DI's, cleaned the stamps whilst still in place on the platform, inked with Versafine and heat embossed with detail clear EP. This allowed me to add the Pan Pastels without muting the colours of the stamping. 

Happy weekend all, if your in the UK a nice long one.

Flight of the Dragonfly

Morning everyone, a new challenge at Allsorts and Liz would like to see 'More than one Fold'. Prizes come from Oakwood and Highlight Crafts. I'm out of hospital but a bit fragile so will update on the weeks special events tomorrow.

A tri fold tag card using AALL and Create Tag it Yourself dies(27), Oopsa stencil (161), Wingbrushed (1107) and Time Heals (1110). A brayered and stencilled background, pot from Containers (401) plus a few left over flowers and Squirrel from Highlight TRR collections.

Allsorts celebrates it's 15th Birthday in a couple of weeks and there are awesome prizes, know we always have good ones but believe me this will be sooooo special. So please share the logo to help us spread the word........and talking of words, theres a play on them in the logo to give you a hint of what's to come!

Poppy parade

Morning everyone, a new challenge at Allsorts where Denas's theme is to incorporate stencil's into our work. Prizes come from Oakwood and Highlight Crafts.

Above a Highlight Crafts TV sample using the new MCS Floral Extravaganza and A5 stencil collection, the base tag is AALL and Create, an oxide spray background and stencilling with distress crackle paste. 

The image on this is one of several on AALL and Create Crystal Wood (864), Stamped and unusually for me coloured in, some stencilling using Twisting and Turning (157) and words from Power of the Word (754).

I also have a share for the new Rudolph Days challenge, a mixture of Lavinia, AALL and Create and my own seasonal sentiment stamps.

Finally, a date for the rescheduled hospital treatment, it's this coming week the day after our Buckingham Palace trip for eldest Son's investiture, not ideal timing but so pleased it's eventually happening as my body seems to have reached rock bottom.

Which means I'll be MIA much of the week so see you all soon.

It has to be Spring

Morning everyone, a new challenge at Allsorts and my turn to choose the theme, so being totally transparent there could only be one for this time of year 'It has to be Spring' - well I've never made any secret it's my favourite season.

No hospital procedures, cancelled again, long story and I'll explode if I start to explain. Instead I've succumbed to a Crohn's flare along with a UTI, so not feeling my best.

Your probably all fed up with seeing these Highlight/TRR Daffodils but promise this is the last one....for a while anyway. They are the last batch from all those I cut and decoupaged back at Christmas, it's a fairly large tall DL base, an oval die used to cut out the partial aperture and the blooms arranged. A coordinating sheet of MCS rice paper and a really old Tattered Lace sentiment which is actually on the inside of the card although it's not apparent,  I should really have taken a second photo of the card open.

Another using the Crocus (624) from AALL and Create, stamped into a masked oxide panel, stamped and then the flower head stamped a second time onto inky card, cut out on the S&C and a strip of washi tape to ground the flower.

Many thanks for your kind visits and words of encouragement, always much appreciated.