A real mixed bunch

Good morning Peeps, it's the first Sunday of the month so time for new challenges which means my post is a bit top heavy with photos again.

We have a real collection of varying themes for you this time round.................at Craft a Scene challenge we want to see 'Trees, at least three of them', At Stampalot  we have some photo inspiration which involves soft pastel colour a touch of lace and a feel of Victoriana and at Penny Black and More we are in Christmas mode with 'Early Christmas Makes'

My card at the top is some inky indulgence, lots of Art Impression stamps and with a bit of artistic licence could be the landscape very close to home. We have quite a lot of Monkjack Deer roaming wild in the fields,  they are such beautiful but timid creatures and we also have a large population on Canada Geese so those in my scene just might be coming down to land on the lake across the side field. Then the horses of course and when I was still fit enough I loved nothing better than an early morning hack across the Fens, now the best I can manage is to groom them, but it's still wonderful to be close to them and all these marvels of Nature. 

My Penny Black DT pieces both use some of the new 2012 Christmas releases, you will find links and details on the thumbnails below. For the card above I also used some of the new Madison DP's from Penny Black, the pads have 48 sheets with a real range of designs suitable for all year round.

On the card above I inked direct to stamp using distress markers and a spritz of water before stamping and distressing the edges a little. The DP is a new Christmas one from Imaginisce and is double sided which is always a bonus. The Poinsettia is made from a spellbinder die, it's one I bought this time last year after totally falling in love with, it soooooo useful.

My final share is my Stampalot DT piece and I've taken the colours and lace from the inspirational photograph. The image is La Blanche and I coloured in with Derwent water colours. For some odd reason the roses look somewhat florescent in the picture, but they really are not in real life.

I really hope you can join in with our challenges this month and look forward to coming round visiting all your entries.

Wings and Things

A very Good Morning to you all, I hope you are having a good weekend and enjoying the Olympics as much as I am, wasn't last evening just awesome, I can't begin to imagine how electrifying the atmosphere was in the stadium as Team GB clocked up three golds, not forgetting those on the water earlier in the day.

As it's the first Sunday of the month it means there are lots of new challenges and we have some great themes for you. The ones at Stampalot and Penny Black and More might leave you thinking I didn't work it all out too well, but I asked my DT's for ideas and it really is sheer coincidence that the two are pretty similar. And the theme at Craft a Scene could also tie in very nicely.

So at Stampalot it could not be easier with the theme 'Take Flight' - something with wings predominant on your work and at Penny Black and More it's 'Whiskers and Wings, then at Craft a Scene it's 'Anything Goes, but with a bias towards the Great Outdoors. So all in all the opportunity to work with all those things I love most in crafting.

My Stampalot DT piece at the top of this post is probably a bit different for me, a touch CAS which is miles away from my norm, but thought I would give it a try. I stamped the PB butterfly onto the card base using Picked Raspberry from the TH Summer Collection, then again onto a piece of BoBunny DP which I decoupaged. The butterfly 'trail' was created using a mask and the same TH distress ink, which I also lightly sponged around the PB sentiment. The border is simple a punched strip and folded, with some ribbon placed across it.

The butterfly card shape which could fit any of the challenge themes and was just a bit of inky indulgence really, was created by welding the shapes and cut using Cricut Design Studio. I treated it just like a normal inked and masked piece, sponging the inks and stamping Hero Arts tall grasses, then a smaller butterfly which I inked with the same colours and over stamped with a new PB stamp.

My Craft a Scene DT piece is one of the favourite little Countryside scenes I so love to create using inking, masking and stamping with a collection of various stamps, all listed in the thumbnails below. And of course there had to be a sun with rays which I simple create with a sponge and piece of ripped paper.......it's best to rip the edges rather than cut them other wise the line of the rays are too harsh.

Finally my Penny Black and More DT piece and yes, it's that birdcage again. I have created the background by stamping the tiny butterflies from one of the stamp sheets I selected from one of our sponsors Flonz Craft who invited the DT to select some stamps to use and I thought these would compliment the main image Penny Black stamp well. The butterflies were resist stamped and inked with distress inks and spritzed with Glimmer Mist to blend the colours and the main butterfly inked and spritzed with water before stamping out.I also distressed the edges a bit and added some fratage embossing powder and flakes.

I really hope you will join in our challenge this month.

Sitting in a birdsnest

Yeah....................it's not raining this morning and I even caught a glimmer of sun, but yesterday was another real washout and our local tally is near enough 9 inches for the month.

But I had a really lovely surprise to distract me from the rain over the weekend, I found out I had won the challenge over at Pan Pastel, it was my very fist time of entering so call it beginners luck. I've not really entered challenges during the last year since my eyes and mobility decided not to play fair with me and just restrict it to a limited few, so that made the win an added joy and my thanks to the challenge organisers and DT.

So I thought it was only right I entered again this week with one of my recent samples for Stampalot, I think the new La Blanch image is a perfect one for the Springtime theme. The image has been water coloured and some light masking and brayering for the background. I made the rose from a five petal punch and added some beads to a pin to embellish.

All 'ingredients' listed below, but please ask if you want any specific details that I might have missed.

Have a good week everyone and if your not a confident swimmer, make sure you keep your armbands on, you might need to swim home from work or the school run today.

Pan Pastel Challenge - Spring Time

Buttons and Threads

Hello folks, time for another challenge at Allsorts and this week the lovely Fleur is hosting our theme which is "Buttons and Threads".

My first DT piece is one of the samples I recently did for Sir Stampalot using one of the Spring release La Blanch stamps. I stamped the image onto cream cardstock, coloured with Copics and inked and embossed with detail clear three times to get a glass like finish. The DP is from stash, mats cuts with Nesties, a punched border, three buttons and ribbon. You will find pictures and names of all items used in the thumbnails below.

Another sample card, this time using another new stamp from Penny Black which I stamped and embossed with detail clear, then inked with distress inks and added glossy accents to the flower head. The DP on one of the new designs from Teresa Collins which I am really loving, there are so many beautiful designs and some fabulous colour combos. I also added a border using one of the new TH sets, did a bit of stitching a button and some thread.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Trying out a new system

Hello peeps, from a wet, windy and cold Cambridgeshire Fens, can't see there's much chance of an Easter like last year when it was barbie time.

This just a really quick experimental post with a different way of detailing the products I have used. It's because so often people mail me and say they like something or the other but can't find it anywhere or not sure what they are looking for. So I am going to try showing little thumbnails of the main products used in each piece I share, with a link to the codes and product details so you can either order from there or alternately know exactly what you are looking for if heading of to the local craft shop.

This one using one of the new La Blanch stamps has been nicely distressed, the very slightest hint of watercolour on the image, hessian leaves which I find cuts beautifully with Spellbinders through the Grand Calibur.

Let me know what you think and if it's more useful to find what you are looking for.

The scene behind my house

Hello all, hope your week is going well. I confess to being a bit tardy this week and not getting a lot done, it's been one of those weeks where the pain has kicked in a bit more than usual and I've not been able to get a proper crafty head on, not least because I've not been able to sit comfy for very long. 

I had a long chat to my physio this morning and she suggested a few things to try until I see her next, but I think we both know it's a bit of a lost cause and I have to accept my mobility is not going back to where it was before this latest relapse. I'm seriously considering a small mobility scooter, it would be much lighter than my wheelchair and might go in the boot of my little MX5 so I can get out and about a bit more without having to rely on others all the time, that's the main problem living in the sticks, you need a car to get anywhere.

Just the one share of a card I created a couple of weeks ago for Sir Stampalot using a new La Blanch tree stamp that came my way after an appeal for more trees when they visited CHA in January. As my mate Sally will tell you, a girl can never have too many trees, a bit like shoes really. I used Adirondack inks watermelon, peach bellini, butterscotch and meadow and archival sepia to stamp the tree and deer's which are Art Impression. The fence, wire and birdies are all hand drawn with a fine line marker.

The scene could be looking up behind our house, although when we see a Monkjack deer, it's usually a solitary one, they are such pretty but shy characters. And that means the birdies are pigeons happily perched cooing away on the wires above the paddocks, it's a sound I love to hear as I sit crafting. It doesn't take a lot to make me happy you see. Although the hills are artistic licence, it's as flat as a pancake here in the Fens.

Enjoy your day, it's looking like sunshine again today.

Lot's going on..............

Good morning peeps, I'm not sure where to start here, so much going on today, three new challenges to tell you about................Stampalot and Penny Black at Allsorts monthly challenges as well as the weekly one at Allsorts..................and it's my wedding anniversary so there just might be a meal out tonight, but that rather depends on how hubby is feeling as he's still not 100% plus my MS seems to having a bit of a hissy fit again.

So it's going to be a bit of a heavy post, but at least it's Saturday so some of you might be able to grab a coffee and have a leisurely read.

I will start with the little gift set above which is my make for Stampalot Challenge theme is 'Food Glorious Food', basically your project can be anything with an association to food. The poinsettia is a pretty old image from Penny Black 1289J Grand Poinsettia, which I stamped onto Nitwits DP twice and decoupaged. The sentiment which I really love is Stampendous CRQ146 here here and the band around the jar is stamped with Prickly Pear HH0065 here. And is anyone wondered what's in the jar, preserved Victoria plums from the orchard - well that''s what we call it.....about 30 trees in total, so not a proper orchard in the run of things here in the Fens.

Next up is my DT piece for Penny Black at Allsorts where we have some Autumnal photo inspiration on offer, I could happily make cards with this colour way all year so I was totally at home with this one. The main image in Penny Black 3231K Snowy Park......yes it is a Crimbo stamp but I figure there was no reason why it can't not double up for other times of the year with the right colours. I masked a piece of gloss cardstock round the edges so I left a piece in the centre about the size of the stamp, added a sun and brayered Adirondack butterscotch, sunset orange and meadow and added a bit more depth by sponging ginger through the trees.

And last but by no means least at Allsorts Helene would like us to 'Use at least five flowers' on our work. So out came this gorgeous stamp from the new releases from La Blanch called Wandering Amongst Daisies here. I fell in love with this image the moment I saw it and knew exactly what I wanted to do with it, in fact I made quite a few using her. For this one I stamped onto Fabriano watercolour card, coloured with Aquamarkers and added background colour and a little fence, some swirls and five punched daisies and finito !

Enjoy your weekend whatever you have planned.

Keeping it clean and simple

Happy Saturday everyone, are you ready for a new challenge at Allsorts ?

Amanda is hosting this weeks theme and she would like us to be 'Clean and Simple' so I thought this one would fit the bill, it a sample I recently created for Stampalot using one of the new stamps from La Blanch called Wild Flowers here.

I masked a piece of Fabriano watercolour card and sponged three squares using TH wild honey and broken china, then stamped sections of the floral stamp with the masks still in place. The sentiment is a section of Penny Black 2695J.........to use a portion of a stamp I lay a post it note over the sections I don't want to use whilst inking.

Have a good weekend everyone and thanks for popping by.

La Blanch in the meadow

Hello peeps, scheduling this one as I wont be about for a day or so due to a hastily arranged 'secret mission'............can't share details for a bit yet I'm afraid............. but it's very crafty.........so a really brief post with a share I made for this weekends Christmas launch at Sir Stampalot.

Now I realise this one's not actually Christmas, but when the new Le Blanch stamps arrived at the shop I couldn't resist a couple more of that fabulous floral stamps, this one is called simply 'Meadow Flowers' and is available here.

I distressed a piece of Fabriano watercolour card with TH sage and rusty hinge then stamped Hero Arts silhouette grass using TH tea dye. Next I inked the main stamp with Aquamarkers and spritzed with water before stamping, then added a little more colour here and there with a paintbrush. I was really pleased with how the colours worked on this one and felt it needed little more than simply matting up onto the base card.

Catch you again soon.

Hairy bikers meet the secret garden

Morning folks, hope your week is going well.

Play here was interrupted by bad light yesterday when my vision went AWAL for a couple of hours, happened before but still scary stuff, but seems to be back to normal this morning, so will share what I intended to yesterday.

I was totally certain after seeing a lovely card Janice made last week that I definitely needed the TH fence and chains, although I am yet to be convinced that heavy grunge fits with my floral style.................so lets pretend the chain open the door to the Secret Garden.................well there has to be a bit of fantasy in there !!

The image is one of the gorgeous new La Blanch stamps called Wild Flowers which I stamped onto Fabriano watecolour card and coloured with Aquamarkers. I cut the fence and lock from Coredinations purple cardstock, inked with versamark and embossed with TH distress powder milled lavender..................after recovering the contents of the pot from my trouser legs and desk........no idea how that happened.

My second share is another Stampalot sample using one of the new Christmas stamps from Hero K5524 Winter Scene. I brayered through an oval aperture using the Speedball and Adirondack denim dye ink, then stamped the scene in black archival ink and added corners and border punched with Spellbinders Parisian Accents.

All of the new Christmas stamps and goodies will be on sale for the Christmas launch over the Bank Holiday weekend, lots of demos lined up including Lindsay Mason on Sunday 28th August.

New Penny Black and more

Good Afternoon everyone, hope you all had a good and crafty weekend. The weather was a bit windy here, still pretty warm and a bit of rain but not enough to keep hubby happy and the pending hay harvest is looking pretty dismal.

As usual a few shares of samples I have been making for Sir Stampalot using a selection of new stamps from Penny Black, Le Blanch and a selection of old favourite Art Impression ones.

My top card was masked then brayered with Adirkondack dye inks, a whole array of Art Impression stamps, then sponged to add definition to the hills and stream......which hubby said looked like a road ! Does it ?

New from Penny Black 4141K and oldie 2410K, TH distress inks rusty hinge and stormy sky and the flowers decoupaged with MME DP.

Another newbie slapstick from Penny Black 40-056, Magnolia fence masked to extend it and all coloured with Aquamarkers.

And finally, a set of two floral border from La Blanche. I masked the base card, stamped with Hero chalk ink cerulean and sponged the edges. The panel is stamped with versamark, embossed with detail clear and brayered with the same ink - an exception to the rule as I used a matt cardstock. The greeting is by Darkroom Door. UPDATE - I've lost the plot, I uploaded the wrong card, this one is Hero Arts elegant weeds !!.

New stamps, TV & demo sneak peeks

Nose to Nose 40-057 One of the new Penny Black slapstick stamps

Good Morning peeps, hope you are all enjoying this nice weather, lets hope it continues for the Easter weekend.

Gypsy Caravan 2 and Cloud stamp sets

Good Friday I will be domoing at Sir Stampalot.........inky backgrounds, brayering and of course some Penny Black stamps along with Le Blanche. If you are in the area please do pop in for a chat and coffee.

The gorgeous Rosa 4184K Penny Black stamp

It decoupages beautifully coloured with Aquamarkers, inked with versamark frost and spritzed with Glimmer Mist pearls then moulded whilst wet. The DP is October Afternoon.

And another sneak peek at some of the stamps that will be included in Stamp Addicts next live TV programme at 11am on 27th April.........make a note in your dairy.

I'm still not able to spend long in front of the screen, so still shorts posts and not as many visits to you all as I would like, but when I do my DT commenting stints I try and stretch it a bit to visit a few peeps.

Deep in the Fens

As is becoming the norm, a few quick shares, most of which could be outside my window, well with a bit of imagination as the cereal crops in the last one are still green shoots.

The one above has a background masked and brayered with Adirondcak inks to create an atmospheric sky then stamped with a mixture of Art Impression and Clarity stamps.

Another using this cute La Blanche image from Sir Stampalot and Cosmo Cricket DP's. I stamped the left of the base card with the top part of the stamp.

And this one good old Hero Arts silhouette grass onto a piece of watercolour card coloured with TH distress inks stormy sky and wild honey.

More La Blanche and Stampscapes

Hello everyone, hope you all had a good weekend. I want to say a big thank you to all you kind people who still come to visit, desipte me being unable to visit you. I really do appreciate it.

So just a couple of quick shares........"quick" seems to be my word of the moment, but the evil screen still plays havod with my eyes and balance......or it could be the other way round ? I rather think so, such is the nature of this illness.

The card above uses a number of Stampscape stamps onto a brayered and masked background and the card below is another of my samples for Sir Stampalot using the gorgeous new La Blanche stamps which I coloured with Copics and covered with a couple of coats of TH crackle glaze. DP is My Minds Eye and the flower made with TH tattered floral die

Labrador parade and C&C reminder

Back left, Buffy....Peter Pan of the canine world.......at ten she still thinks she's one. Next to her Abbey, now eleven and in the front placid Lily on the left and sister Daisy who is still hyper as ever.

I've been promising this for so long and eventually I got a picture of the puppies together with the senior girls.....no boys allowed in this one.

There's a bit of a red theme going on here it seems, although not planned that way. The card above is another of my samples for Stamp Addicts new programme on Create and Craft this Thursday, 24th March at 11am. My card is watercoloured with Aquamarkers, cut with Grand Nestie labels one and the poppy made with TH tattered floral die.

And this one using one of the gorgeous La Blanche stamps I told you about last week here where you can see a close of of one of these rather different stamp which are available from Sir Stampalot. Also coloured with Aquamarkers and the background stamp is Hero Arts S5264.

Happy crafting everyone.