Dance like no one's watching

Morning all, much to my frustration back to short posts and comments again after Thursday's surgery, but we have a new challenge starting today at We Love Stamping where Avril has selected the theme of Summer Blooms and we have prizes of Penny Black stamps and stencil from Buddly Crafts.

Fortunately made weeks ago using Penny Black Spontaneous Joy, Berry Beauty and Dance, Sing Love (discontinued) repeat stamping the images around a square panel using the stamping platform, inked direct to stamp with Ecoline pens and spritzed with water to build the colour. I then randomly cut out the centre roughly cutting around the images and placed over the sentiment around which stencilling was added. Linking under A/G at Penny Black Saturday and Sunday Stamps.

Also have my card for Card Chain challenge which went to Jo and I received a gorgeous Dog card from Gail which was very timely and brought a smile to my face the day after surgery. I followed the colour options and ink blending. 

A chat in the garden

 

Morning all, mid month time at We Love Stamping and Lynn's theme of Summertime along with gorgeous prizes of Lavinia stamps and Gansai Tambi paints. We also have a new challenge at Allsorts where Val is taking us for a visit to the coast, her them is At the Seaside, our prize is a bundle of beach/sea inspired stamps from Stamp Addicts.

Huge apols for rather short/missing comments the last few days, what started as an innocuous accident turned into two days of absurd NHS activity. Bashed my right thumb in the shower, thumbnail lifted and just attached at top. Nail cut back and dressed at surgery who dispatched me to A&E. Without going into details, three hospitals in a day and eventually 10pm last night a very nice young doctor removed it. Hadn't given credit to just how pivotal thumbs are, or what an impediment when bandaged!

Above it's a warm Summer day and Lavinia's Bron and Quinn are having an in depth Fairy chat in the garden. Quinn is sitting in the Swing Bed surrounded by Vine Branch, Leaf Spray, Field Grass and Bluebell, the background 'rays' created with a piece of cut card and shaped to use as a stencil, sponged (working from bottom to top so you can see where you've inked) with Oxides. Linking to Colour Dare 713 as my colours seem to match the requirement, Friendship at Cardz 4 Galz. and Ellies Garden Party 17.

Another new (to me) Andy Skinner stamp, this time called Our Favourite Place. I kept it fairly simple stamping the image of the little girls and colouring with Zig pens then used Oxides to add background colour and simply framed using dies. There's a beach inspired mood board at Just us Girls.

This one started with a watery inky sky using Oxides, then stamped Penny Black Shaded View and colouring added with Pan Pastels and white gel pen.

The Roses and Lilies which smell Divine still giving a good show....

Graceful Swans

Morning all, we have new challenges starting today at We Love Stamping where this month our theme is very appropriately Summertime selected by Lynn. Two gorgeous prizes of Lavinia stamps and a set of Gansai Tambi paints.

So a perfect opportunity for yet another using Lavinia's new Loomweavers collection. The jar is a Lavinia sticker stencil, using the outer element inked the focal shape, then stamped the mannequin, foliage and cotton reel. The Racoon was stamped twice, onto the cotton reel and a snippet which was cut out and paper pieced and needles and thread stamped into his hand. A paper pieced shirt and basque selected from the many I cut out from scraps of DP as are the little flowers. Several snippets (clothes, Racoon, Flowers) so linking up to the new Snippets Playground challenge.

I saw a card similar to the above on Pinterest so created my own version with stamps I had to create a scene using Lavinia Sacred Bridge, Swans, Cherry Blossom, Bullrush, Oak Leaf and Lily Pad. Used watered down Oxides to create a background, stamped the images starting with the bridge and built up the scene around it and used a piece of acetate to stamp the Swan's reflections and coloured with white Pan Pastels and a pastel pencil.

There was too much cloud to see the Strawberry Moon last Monday/Tuesday but later in the week some awesome sunsets, below long shadows through the orchard as the sun goes down and less than half an hour later the sunset across the fields in the opposite direction across the Fen. 

Rock away

Morning everyone, it's mid way inspiration time at We Love Stamping following Anesha's Sports and Hobbies theme. Prizes are stamps from Visible Image.

Music's the hobby here, always think he looks like Buddy Holly, although someone suggested Hank Marvin, a real blast from the past, remember my Mum liking The Shadows. A stencilled background using Visible Image Parallax stencil and some watered down DI 'splodged' around the edges using acetate, Melody Wave die and Rock Star stamped coloured, cut out and placed focally. The sentiment is from the same stamp set. Linking to AAA Birthday For the Boys, Sparkles and Dragonfly Dreams both want Masculine and it's Stencils at Make my Monday

Are you ready for the World Cup?

Morning all, we have a new challenge starting today at We Love Stamping where Anesha has selected Sports and Hobbies as our theme, we have sports themed stamp sets from Visible Image for two lucky winners.

With the World Cup starting this week......you either love or hate footie, I fall into the former category......it's a fitting theme. My card above is a nod to the Liverpool Reds, several of our squad will be representing their respective Countries in the competition. The focal image is Visible Image Kick Off, background is Fluid which I inked with green and red (Reds home and goalie kit) DI's spritzed with water, then stamped the Footballer in black, word from the same set plus envie to match. Will probably go to youngest son as he's also a Red. Linking to Sweet Stampin' Something for the Boys and 613 Avenue Create ask for a favourite passtime/hobby, don't play it but love watching a good game of fottie....several times a week during the season! 

This one with a musical theme using Visible Image Make Some Noise, in the background Fluid again, inked the same way as above and image stamped with Versafine Clair, coloured with Zig pens and cut out and Melody Wave die. The sentiment is made up with words from the same stamp set. Adding at Crafty Calendar Men and Boys and Maculine at Dragonfly Dreams

Snowy Days is the new theme at Christmas Kickstart so popping to link up with this one. All stamps are Lavinia, Pheasant, Holly, Seasonal Words plus a few worker stamps, Pan Pastel background and snowy elements flicking a Posca pen. Adding at Peace on Earth,

After another MRI seems I still have issues with two other cervical discs, but given the infections of the last three weeks both consultant and I prefer to avoid further surgery for now. So scheduled for some alternative treatment to see if it helps ease the neck and arm pain which continues, meaning I still can't type or sit for long periods.

Out in the Meadow

 

Scheduled again, at time of writing I'm scheduling for two or three weeks as told no keyboard/ computer activity will be allowed for at least two weeks (doing posts and comments on a mobile is something I just can't see to do). 

It's time for our mid month posts at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations, sadly the very last one at the latter. We have Animal themes at both and prizes from AALL and Create and Highlight Crafts.

Above Lavinia's Gideon and two Magpies sitting on Tree of Courage, aptly named given the evil eye coming their way from Gideon, several worker stamps to build up the scene and sticker words.

Circles created using a mask and fine liner pen, Lavinia Garden Poppies and Wildflower stamped into the circles with Versafine Clair inks and looking at the Flowers Lupin and Woodland Hare.

The challenges run until Wednesday 3rd May so still plenty of time to join in.

Olive among the Flowers

Note added: Tentatively posting this as had blogger issues, Google/Blogger have been very helpful and thought issue was solved but apparently not. I'm not getting any notification on my reading list when you post so my visits will be hit and miss, likewise seems I'm not on your lists.

Morning all, new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations. Also a heads up that AALL and Create are offering a 15% discount throughout May to celebrate Allsorts 17th Birthday, the code is on the challenge blog here. 

There's an animal thing going on and at WLS Pinky has selected All Creatures Great and Small with a prize from AALL and Create and at Stamping Sensations Anesha has selected Cute Animals with a prize from Highlight Crafts.

Many of you will have seen the announcement at Stamping Sensations on Friday, but for those who missed it the challenge is closing and the May one will be our last. It was a very tough decision having started it in April 2010, but as lots know I've not been at my best the last few months and after a further MRI last week seems surgery to pin my cervical spine is inevitable. So sadly Stamping Sensations is closing and I've also left my DT spots at MAWTT and Love to Craft. We Love Stamping, Allsorts and Tag-Along (and ATC's) will continue as usual.

Above a card I've made fort Granddaughter-in law's Birthday coming up shortly, she not into craft and blogs so safe to post. Masked the side, used AALL and Create Mans Best Friend which is perfect as they have a black Lab called Olive, A&C's new Starfall Rays stencil along with the top of a Lavinia Tree and Wild Flowers, the sentiment from the latest release is perfect as her name is Faith.

One from my files made with a ready inked background when I was experimenting with the then new Spin tool. Lavinia Honeysuckle, a few extra leaves and Minni and Moo dancing to the Music.

Finally my CCC card which went to Madja in Slovinia and I received one in lovely sunny colours from Kathy in the UK. Using the spin tool and Lavinia mini stamps I created a partial wreath, sponged the requisite colours of Peony, White and Leaf, Long Ears in the form of my Favourite Hare Lupin looking up at the Birdie, Spring colours and word from A&C.

I'll leave you with the garden this week and Thursday/Friday's awesome moon, starting with Ceanothus, followed by Phothinias (Red Robin), White Iris, Wisteria and that moon.

And to finish yet another clear up of cones, there's a never ending supply and the girls (Labs) spend hours watching them drop then charge about distributing them all over the garden. We load into the trailer then use the tractor mower to take to the fire heap, they burn well!

Have a good Sunday.

In the meadow and more blossoms

April seems to be whizzing by as we find ourselves at the mid month point of our April challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where themes are Spring and Inspired by Nature. Prizes on offer are Lavinia stamps, a Gina K gift voucher and stamp set.

Above is a new make, but most popping up lately are from my files which are now running low. It's a little Nature scene using the new Meadowbrook Tales collection from Lavinia and two of the new Versafine Clair ink colours which are so bright and vibrant. I've picked out 'Tree and Earth" at Time Out at Little Red Wagon the theme is Inspired by a Song - Bright Eyes (tissue at the ready) and Z for Zoology at Alphabet Challenge.

An old make, base shape using A&C Roadway Vistas stamped with Berry Bliss and Spotted Wings, the sentiment cut into two is from my Believe stamp set.

Christmas Kickstart's theme is Brimming with Style, they would like to see things in hats, so another found hidden in my files from back in the Winter using one of my favourite Fairies Lavinia's Eve sporting a stripy hat to match her sparkly wings. All stamps Lavinia. Hat's are also the theme at ABC Christmas and the teal and yellow popped out at me from the photo at Inspiration Station

Lots of green appearing in the gardens this weeks, first leaves are beginning to open on the largest Horse Chestnut which is a real beauty, one of a good number of forest trees we planted when we moved to this house about forty years ago. The Quince tree is in full blossom, as is one of several Choisya's, a beautiful triple Tulip in our little Poppy's garden and finally the first Lilac to bloom.

Everything is inspired by Nature

Morning all, thankfully much of this post was scheduled so just added a few more words. We have new challenges starting today at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where themes are very seasonal, Spring and Inspired by Nature. Prizes on offer are Lavinia stamps, a Gina K gift voucher and A&C stamp set.

Above and below using Lavinia's new Meadowbrook Tales collection which I've been lucky to work with, the bundle sold out very quickly but stamps still available individually. A triptych gatefold card using a 'serving dish template', inky background applied with acetate, my preferred technique, a few older worker stamps to build up the scene and colouring using Zig pens. Adding to the Spring/Easter themes at Fab and Funky and Sweet Stampin' and Crafty Animals.

For this one a Gelli Plate background found ready prepared, Tree stamped into the oval, Lavinia Butterflies (not in the collection), Shrooms and Hares coloured with pencils and grounded with Pastels. Entering at Daisy Chain No DP's theme and Beautiful Butterflies at Lets Create and Craft.

Luckily this for SS was made weeks ago, and details already added to the post. A 3D wildlife scene using a whole host of Lavina stamps, Badger 1 and 2, Woodland Hare, Garden Poppies, Wild Summer Flower, Leaf Spray along with a good number of worker stamps. I took an A4 sheet of Multifarious, scored vertically in two places, cut diagonally about a third of the way down, stamped the animals and shrooms on the smaller piece, cut around the tops and built up the foliage around them. After creating a sky stamped the flowers and grasses and raised the smaller section with foam tape. Adding this one at The Card Concept and Cards 4 Galz Spring Flowers, the Oriental Poppies are budding up so won't be long, White Out at Shopping Our Stash and Tic Tac Toe using Spring, Colouring Technique (direct to stamp) and Fun Fold.

One for the Snippets Playground, dies from Amazon, Lisa Horton quilted EF, Lavinia word stickers and Liquid pearls. Snippets below and very frugally for me, I cut the flowers from the middle of the larger mat before shading the edges with DI's. Alphabet Challenge's theme is Y for Yellow and Crafty Calendar Dies and Punches.

A few more photos of what's springing into life in the gardens.

Spiraea Arguta Bridal Wreath, now quite a substantial shrub.

Spiraea cantoniensis

Anemone coronaria 'Harmony Orchid (just realised my nails match!)

Clematis armandii.

You have been so kind with your words of support regarding the surgery mentioned in my past last weekend so thought I best give an update. I saw my Neurologist in Cambridge a few days ago and managed to scheduled an appointment with my Pain Consultant on Friday. Once I have the thoughts of them both I will make a final decision on the surgery rather than launching headlong into it later this month as the Orthopaedic consultant would like.