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 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!

Sybella's away

Morning everyone, it's mid way inspiration time at Tag-Along (and ATC's) challenge with the theme of Autumn. Our prize this month is a Penny Black stamp, stickers and silk ribbon form Buddly Crafts.

I've gone Halloween for both my shares, above a double stand up tag using the new Lavinia Midnight Coven collection plus some worker stamps, the Witch is Sybella. A Pan Pastel background and all stamping in Verafine black plus some stencilling. Adding the above at Lost Coast Halloween, same at Try it on Tuesday, The Witching Hour at Lavinia and Halloween Crafts all Year.

My ATC has an inky background, stencilling with Distress Crackle Glaze through a spider stencil and a number of older Lavinia images. 

If you've not already joined in then I do hope you will find time to do so, you can enter up to four times with Tags, Bookmarks and ATC's. Adding to ATC's Around the World. 

I have one more for The Little Things, just couldn't resist the idea of Halloween pink and Pumpkins, so had fun creating a tag with a number of different stamps and stencils from Lavinia, the base tag is A&C. Adding at If you give a Crafter a Cookie Get Spooky and Halloween at Stamps and Fun.

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.

Poppies, Herbalums and a Squirrel

It's the fourteenth of the month which means mid way time at Tag-Along (and ATC's) where we have Lynn's theme of Circles, can be just one circle or lots! Our prize is a bundle with tag dies, stencil, stickers and twine.

My tag above has a brayered background plus stamping using an A&C worker stamp, a really old TH die to create the circle holes with an inky piece laid beneath, Two Red Robins Poppies, coloured twines and a word sticker. Poppies are Bright so linking 613 Avenue Create, Creative Knockouts Lots of Layers, Just us Girls Bold and Blooms for Triple B, Blooms, Birds or Butterflies.

A set of ATC's, my circles are the sun/moon with a whole host of Lavina stamps which include Herbs and Delights with Pixie Herabalum's gardening and the little Bunnies coming along to eat everything that grows, just as they do in our gardens. Sewing the Seeds of Love by Tears for Fears is my song for A Place to Start and the AG option at The Little Things.

This was my Sunday afternoon experiment for the Snippets Playground, not sure if it worked and certainly far more gold splatters than planned....my left hand and arm remain wonky since surgery and index finger doesn't move anymore, so if I'm not using a stamp platform everything that happens is all rather hit and miss! 

My snippets below shows the middle parts left after cutting apertures for Christmas cards (which will pop up later this week) onto which I stuck snippets of Autumnal (Amazon) DP's onto them and cut out the circles. A brayerd background, random stamping with A&C and Lavinia stamps, then just arranged the circles. Adding at Love Those Pretty Papers.

Wonder if Google will get the reading list issue sorted this week, we live in hope, I'm trying hard to check on those I visit regularly but sure some are falling through the net so apologies if I've missed some visits.

Going round in circles and a Snippet

Morning everyone, the 1st of September means a new challenge at Tag-Along (and ATC's) where it's Lynn's turn to choose the theme which is Circles. Our prize is a bundle with tag dies, stencil, stickers and twine.

I used Stamperia Desire-Tango ephemera, an impulse buy, as you do! Was pretty simple to make just building up and arranging the various elements on the tag base, my single circle the Amor sentiment. The backing DP is MCS.

An ATC coin with an oxide acetate 'splodged' background, a moon and Lavinia Fairy Catkins along with Pipin the Hare.

Finally a bookmark using Lavinia Blackberry which I felt fitting for September, some circle stencilling on the background and an embossing folder with circles although that's probably not too apparent in the photo. The single word also Lavinia.

Theres a new challenge over at the Snippets Playground and just found this in my files so I can pop over for the start of the new term this week. Afraid no snippet photo but Poppies which are Penny Black as is the die cut word all stamped onto and cut from snippets, wheat stamped in the background with very old HA stamp and heat embossed with gold EP. Try it on Tuesday's new theme is embossing so entering there and Penny Black Saturday under A/G.

Summertime

Good morning, a short post, usually have them written well in advance, seem to have slipped up on this one, explanation further down, sure you are as weary as me with excuses! 

We have new challenges at Allsorts with Sarah theme of Colours of Summer and prize from Visible Image and at Tag-Along (and ATC's) with Pinky's Fashion theme and prize from AALL and Create.

Above using Visible Image Love Life Now, a rainbow effect background inked background then Butterfly stamped first in grey and again in black, the kaleidoscope of Butterflies also stamped in black and the sentiment (looks wonky but straight face on). Linking to Carz4Gals Rainbows theme.

My tag uses AALL and Create's Sirens of Spring, Kraft tags, offcuts of DP, added stencilling, image coloured with Zig Clean Colour pens and flowers from same stamp set on the smaller tag and tied with seam binding rubbed into some watered down Oxides to carry the colour.

A very simple ATC using images from MCS scaled down in size, machine stitching around the edge and a couple of sticker words.

Another for Allsorts using Visible Image Butterfly Ink stencil coloured with pastel shades of DI, then the same stamp set as above and Butterfly covered with crackle glaze. The sentiment is made up of two stamps from VI Colourful Life.

Nearly forgot I also made a bookmark a few weeks ago, both stamps wood mounted, Penny Black (discontinued) Christmas Gorgeous and sentiment another oldie from Art Impressions, stamped and coloured with Zig pens and stencilling in the background. Linking this to Penny Black Saturday challenge A/G.

A tad incapacitated yet again, Cervical Spine procedure went pear shaped last week so aborted due to a bleed, told another cervical microdiscectomy same as May on different discs was only option. To my surprise called in again Thursday and all went top plan, now just the frustration of recovery and limited craft/computer time for a week or two.

Really hope you can find time to join us at both challenges,

Swinging in the garden and an endangered chick

Morning everyone, it's mid month time at Tag-Along (and ATC's) where we are following my theme of Favourite Colours. 

As I said at the start of the challenge I love working with so many colours, but pinks and purples seem to feature regularly closely followed by Autumnal colours so it's the former for this one. A stand up double tag (cut two, scored and joined at top) using AALL and Create Tagtastic, a brayered background then stamped with Lavinia Tree of Hope, Pris sitting on her Swing and scene built up with several worker stamps and stickles. Linking to Cut it Up, Own Background and Unicorn Challenge, No DP.

An ATC utilising small TRR flowers, I don't recall the name of these but they were mini versions of some previous larger releases. An inky offcut stamped with A&C background stamps, bow tied across, envie to match and sticker word.

I also have another ATC and Tag, made early yesterday morning, my craft room is next to the conservatory and despite the misting fan, by lunchtime it's just toooooo hot to craft. It's a double tag for The Little Things whose theme is Elephants or Flamingo's, the stamp is PB Let's Go Wild, their 2013 release and looks to be discontinued.  Entering in the A/G option at Penny Black Saturday and Try it on Tuesday, Animals.

ATC's around the World's theme is Monochromatic, the background a Gelli Plate offcut machined around weeks ago so was quick to stamp Lavinia Flower Fairy, she a really old stamp and getting fragile, the rubber used back then seems to be thinner as I have a few which have got brittle. Also added a Butterfly, flowers and stickles plus a tiny envie.

I regularly listen to birds in the garden and like to track what visitors we have via the Merlin Bird app. The other day both Daughter and I picked up a Spotted Flycather in different parts of the gardens, as they are rare in this part of the Country and on the RSPB red endangered list we concluded it was just passing by. 

However, Saturday sitting in the courtyard we heard a soft chirping initially thinking it was coming from one of several nests in the surrounding shrubs, theres a Blackbird, Wren, Sparrow and Goldfinch all carrying our frantic feeding duties to their young. To our surprise this little chap was sitting forlornly on the ground chirping, Merlin told me it was a Spotted Flycatcher. It was fully feathered so probably very recently fledged.

Half an hour later it was still there, no parent is sight and as it had made no attempt to fly Hubby decided to try and move it to a safer place, it sat in hand for a minute or two then took an unsteady flight to a nearly bush. There it sat and chirped for another hour, eventually both parents appeared overhead and perched on a telegraph wire along with two juveniles who looked rather larger than this one. Parents then started frantic flights from wire to the roof so we decided best move to another part of the garden. We checked back an hour later and they had disappeared so hopefully all is now well. As I always say, Nature is amazing.

Basques, blossoms and a snake!

Morning everyone, time for our new challenge at Tag-Along (and ATC's) where it's my turn to choose the theme which is Favourite Colours. 

After choosing the theme I wondered at the wisdom as I love using most colours, but with me it's perhaps more colour palettes such as above, I love purple and green together and here I've used Lavinia's new Loomweavers collection along with some older stamps onto a background brayered with Clair inks.

Purples with pinks for the above, Lavinia Cherry Blossom, it's one of my very first Lavinia stamps way back about 2008, it's just beginning to crack so probably time to replace. Birds are Magpies and Bluebell (I know they're pink!), sticker words and again a brayered background. Chris has selected Something with B as her theme at Fab 'n' Funky, I have Blossoms, Birds and Bow and Try it in Tuesday In the Garden.

I had in mind to see if something as small as an ATC coin could be stamped on the spin tool, it does work, so a simple little make using two Lavinia mini stamps with stencilled leaves in the middle finished with a sticker sentiment.

I also have a bookmark, when I got the go ahead for some limited computer and craft time I thought they would be less taxing projects so made a few. This one uses an A&C stamp, a lightly brayered background, little Butterflies and another tassel from the bundle I found a while back.

Not a great deal of change in available flora, the Roses are still enjoying the warm weather and above the first Snake of the season picked up when poo picking the other day (for those not familiar with keeping horses, an essential daily task to keep pasture clean). It's only a youngster but not my favourite creatures. 

The Hemerocallis (Day Lily) below struggled initially with the dry weather but is picking up now.