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

Fly Free at Allsorts

Morning to you all, this week at Allsorts our theme has been selected by Helen and is CAS with the usual A/G, our prizes come from Oakwood Direct.

For me it's that difficult theme again but one I make myself use now and then as it's therapeutic to step outside the comfort zone. The background stencil is one I created with acetate on the scan and cut after seeing a similar one for sale and inked with Elements, the Reeds and Birdie are a Sweet Poppy stencil and inked with Clair Onyx and the words from an AALL an Create set.

My second card uses what is a sort of gel plate, I saw my team mate Val use it a while back so had to buy one but no longer have the packing so no idea of the make any more (update, Val's just told me it's from Crafty Roo - who have a closing down sale) After inking the plate to create the base I simply stamped Lavinia Lumus, a Bee from Bumble and Hum and words from Bumble Words.

Robins Noel

A mega quick post for the new Rudolph Days challenge, with it being a short month we only have a few days to join in and if I don't do it now chances are I'll not get time as have demands on my time next few days.

I used a Sweet Poppy stencil and Elements to ink the bauble, added two little Lavinia Robins sitting on a snowy branch and the word Noel, love the font on this Lavinia set. Plus an envie to match with a larger Robin.

Lots of White (almost) and a snippet

Morning one and all,  a new Allsorts challenge where Ellie would like to see 'Lots of White'.  Prize come from AALL and Create.

I alluded to poorly doggies a couple of weeks ago, this week's been traumatic. Daisy eldest Lab fourteen and a half collapsed the other day, has rallied, eating and wagging her tail but very frail. Poppy, Parsons JR, twelve and a half, went into DWR specialist Vets beginning of week to have second surgery for Laryngeal Collapse, before they got that far CT scans showed a large mass on her liver. 

Then they discovered a blood clot preventing any surgery and suggesting the unthinkable. So we visited her Thursday, she seemed her usual self, they say she's not in pain and managing the laryngeal breathing problem with light sedation. So after a couple of conversations with Marcello our regular Vet, we brought her home and he is supporting us in palliative care so she can spend her last days/weeks in her own surroundings. It's heartbreaking, but she's mooching in the gardens as always, eating well and one would never realise what's really going on.

Back to craft, white space is something I find scary on cards, so this was a challenge restraining myself adding more colour. Above, a Sweet Dixie die, Tattered Lace EF, Organza bow and TRR white Christmas Roses. There's a very odd blue border around the card, it's not there irl so must be something to do with taking the photo in rotten light and not had time to do a re-take.

This one is a Sweet Poppy stencil, the image coloured with distress inks, left to dry then the stencil placed back over the image and translucent paste applied. The sentiments are AALL and Create.

The current challenge is in full swing over at the Playground, here's my entry using snippets for the circles, words and focal flower which is a firm favourite of many of us, Textured Florals (531) from AALL and Create, although not available from them several companies still have stock and base is a Gelli Plate mop up. So sorry Misses Di and Sarn but I don't have a snippet photo. Also popping to the Path of Positivity with this one.

Today I must finish sending Christmas cards, I am so behind, did one batch and the other sitting waiting to be done.

Rockin' around the Christmas Tree

A quick (and wow unscheduled) post with a share for the new Rudolph Day's challenge and another for the current Snippets Playground. Above a Sweet Poppy frame, stencil paste and foiled through a hot laminator, Lavinia Wild Pine Tree and two little Fairies, the right from Dancing Fairies, the left no longer available.

This one uses lots of Bazzil and Mirri leftovers, the stars created in Canvas Workshop and sent to the Scan and Cut, it's one I made some months ago and never blogged (hence no photo of snippets). Thought it would be good for a masculine card and made a few in different colours.

Foxes in the Wheat

Morning again Peeps, three times in four days, what can I say!

Today I am sharing my mid month inspiration for River of Creativity, those who saw my post Saturday will know we are having a bit of a push to get the new challenge out there. It's a challenge for all types and styles of craft and we love seeing what you create, jewellery, mixed media, layouts, needle crafts, in fact absolutely anything hand created and yes cards as well but we are hoping to push you outside your comfort zone a little and try something different.

Above a frame with a canvas insert, painted with acrylics, crackle glaze and gilding wax. The wheat is a Sweet Poppy stencil, versamark applied through the stencil and heat set with detail gold EP and some leaves added with a Lavinia stencil. The Poppies are from CB Poppy Meadow, the Foxes Lavinia stamps as are the little flowers along the bottom.

Please do pop over to the challenge blog, we would love it if you joined in.

 

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Over the Rainbow

Morning Peeps so time for a new challenge at Allsorts, this week Kath would like us to use  'Any three colours of the Rainbow'. Our winner will receive a £15 store voucher from a new sponsor Pearlywinks who have their own range of beautiful stamps. Further down a couple of my shares from my post over at the CB blog here.

Before I move onto todays creations, a heads up that a new challenge is starting on 5th May. It will be monthly and run by Zoe who I've known for many years, she is looking for Design Team members who enjoy varying styles of craft which is reflected in the fab name River of Creativity. You can find out all about it here and even grab the badge to help spread the word.

Onto to my creations and rare for me no stamping other than inspirational quotes from my CB Life is so much Better set. I succumbed to some new stencils from Sweet Poppy a few weeks ago so gave them a good airing making a batch of cards for one of my DIL's who likes CAS cards. Both were inked with Oxides through the stencils, then once dried I replaced the stencil and applied a coat of translucent paste. The colours of the top one look more pink in my photo but it's Wilted Violet, Mustard Seed and Mowed Grass for Violet, Yellow and Green from the Rainbow.

Following exactly the same process but this time using Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade and Mowed Lawn, picking out Yellow, Orange and Green from the Rainbow.

And as promised my CB shares, all details over on the blog here.

As always, my appreciation for your visits and words of encouragement.

 

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Christmas sparkle, YouTube and Gelli Plate

Morning Peeps, I've been a really bad blogger this week I'm afraid, another very poorly doggie, this time Daisy who is ten and had to have most of her mammary glands removed and very fragile still. Add to that my stamps for the Chocolate Baroque 4th January One Day Special on Hochanda ran into RM problems (putting it politely) and had to be sent again, a week lost meaning I've had my head down getting samples turned round in time. I've got nine made so far so well on my way...........teasing you now, they are all new stamps and yummy!!

This will be my last post before Christmas so I would like to wish everyone a happy festive season, I know for many Christmas just won't be the same this year but let's pray 2021 is a better year all round. For hubby and I it will be a strange Christmas, usually all the children and grandchildren are with us, but that's about 20 of us so just not an option this year. We decided as a family with several secondary teachers, another mingling with Boris and Co and an NHS front line worker that even if allowed it's just not worth the risk, hopefully we will have a belated Christmas in the Spring and see one another once again.

Moving on to Allsorts which is a two week challenge and the last of 2020. Kath is our host and she would like to see 'Sparkle and Shine and the prize a £15 store voucher from Stamp Addicts. It's a bit of a photo heavy post as I also have a post over at the Chocolate Baroque blog today plus yesterday's shares for our mid month reminders at We Love Chocolate Baroque and Stamping Sensations challenges.

So a gold one and a green one for Allsorts, I made 75 of these way back in January after seeing Lucy from Sweet Poppy Stencils use this beautiful wreath and the hot foiling technique. 

And dare I say another YouTube video link here, today's one making the card below with a Gelli Plate, Brusho's and a Chocolate Baroque stamp.

Another card from my Chocolate Baroque post here.

A green version of the Allsorts share at the top of the post, made in exactly the same way.

I'll be honest and say I really don't enjoy making Christmas cards, especially batch ones, I blame starting them for TV in May every year and after that I never want to do my own and those for daughters/DIL's. So as there is usually a lull in TV work around the Christmas period (although this year seems to be an exception and I have soooo much to do) I take advantage of the break and get the bulk out of the way so they are done and dusted and just have fun making the individual ones for family, DT work and the odd order during the year. Yes I already have about 100 made for next year.

A Chocolate Baroque share shaker card using the Tomte Gnomes and below the new Canary Bird Rose stamp.

Finally, the Fairy scene which is of course all Lavina.

If your still with me after all that, have a lovely weekend and Christmas.

 

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Sparkle and Shine and graduation photos

Good morning to you all, it's time for our new challenge at Allsorts and this week Susan has chosen the theme 'Sparkle and Shine'. Our sponsor is Stix 2.

We had a very special day in Cambridge this week when Zachary graduated gaining a First with Honours in History and below are a few photos of the day, not that clear I'm afraid as they were taken on my phone, but will still make their way to the family album.

I also have my card for the new Butterfly Challenge where this time round it is H for Hoops and/or Harebell along with your Butterfly.

Above is the card I made for our Granddaughter Amelia's 21st Birthday in the Summer and as she is a pink girl I had to indulge her passion for her special day. The focal image is a Sweet Poppy stencil designed by the talented Tracey Dutton of Lavinia stamps.

I started by masking the sun and sponging the sunrays........pink ones of course in this fantasy world of mine and Amelia's it seems as she loved it. Next a Penny Black stamp to add some blossom across the top with sparkle added to the blossom.

Then I stenciled the Fairy image using white texture paste and added more pink glitter over the whole and  a few Lavinia toadstools stamped on the bottom. The sentiment is computer generated, an TL embossed panel and some pretty ribbon which I bought in Worthing when we were staying with one of our sons and DIL..........like me she loves ribbons and took me to a gem of a shop which was like an Aladdin's cave of ribbons and fabric.

With Azaria (she graduates from Cambridge next year) and Anysia (she graduated from the same uni last year)

Zachary (sorry about the background, was taken in Cambridge Grand Arcade wandering between robing and the ceremony)

The class of 2016, Zachary second from left

Now for my Butterfly share and I was certain I had a Harebell (Campanula) stamp but I drew a blank searching my draws and boxes but I did realise after making my card that the flowers in the pink card at the top are probably Harebells. So I just went with the colour along with some hoops and of curse the Butterfly. I started with a piece of 600gsm Fabriano and sprinkled lots of water, Brushos and pearl mica and allowed the colours to blend.

Next I used tops from embossing powders and dipped them into distress ink and 'stamped' them onto the background, followed by some stenciled circles using a white ink pad. The main image is a really old wooden stamp called Filigree Butterfly from The Artful Stamper, this must be at least fifteen years old and I was surprised to find it's still a stock item. I stamped the Butterfly a second time, coloured with the same Brusho's, added wire antenna and some white Frantage around the edge and decoupaged. 

The sentiment is from Inkylicious and as the words overlap I used a post it to mask first the top and then the bottom as I stamped so that it was split into two, then more Frantage around the edges of both the sentiments and main piece before assembling.

Happy weekend all.

Poppies and wheat

Morning Peeps, my thanks for all your lovely comments on my last posts and also for all your good wished for our Anniversary, I am a little late with my thanks but all were much appreciated.

Today I am just popping in with this weeks Guest Designer creation for Chocolate Baroque, instead of a card I have decorated a photo frame which is now hanging in our conservatory. I have written up all the details over at the DT blog here so hope you will forgive me for not going into detail on my own blog as well as typing is still quite an issue, but on the positive side I am finding new ways of crafting with one gammy arm and hand so it's not all bad.