Teddy Bears Picnic

Morning Peeps, time for our new Allsorts challenge and this week Kath would like to see Bears and we have a lovely stamp from Penny Black for this weeks prize...........I couldn't believe that I didn't have a single bear in the PB box so it's some little critters which are always popular.

I feel I need to offer an explanation for any dodgy comments you might have received from me recently. My dexterity is always bad as is my sight, all part of the MS scenario so what I write is not always as intended, but I am reliant on one eye at present until the cataract is dealt with so between iffy fingers and sight I know there have been a few faux par's slipping through the net.

Back to my card which is something right out of my comfort zone and the theme did put me in a bit of a quandry. I thought I had a Polar Bear stamp but it's not to be found anywhere, then in my search I came across a Penny Black set hidden in a bag marked just Penny Black, no name or code and I am sure I would never have bought it, so can only conclude it was one I was asked to use in a class or for store samples at some point. Anyhow, it fitted the theme perfectly and I used two of the stamps in the bag to create a little scene, extending the stamping from around the tree to add a few more flowers. Pan Pastels for the sky and background along with DI's and pencils for the colouring and red gem 'apples' on the tree.

Please do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from my team mates.

 

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Veneitan Roses and meet Clover the Dalmatian puppy

It's time for our  new challenges at Stamping Sensations and Penny Black and More where our themes are 'I spy' and 'Make it Feminine'. As always there are wonderful prizes to be won at both.  And I had to share some photos of Clover an adorable Dalmatian puppy that has joined our family, you will find her further down my post.

Starting off with my PB&M share at the top I used an old favourite Venetian Summer which I stamped with black Versafine onto Fabriano, next I stamped the Roses from Red Blush around the top and sides to frame the Venetian scene. I then stamped, cut out and coloured more roses to decoupage and after coluring the scene I used Pan Pastels to create the sky and sun rays and matted onto a black base card. I have to say I am feeling rather deprived this year as we have not been to Venice, somthing we usually do even if only for a couple of days pre cruise.

'B' is for Boy, Blue and Birds

This was was so much fun, starting with Distress Oxides which I put onto a piece of acetate, spritzed with just a little water as I wanted to loosen the ink but keep the coloures vivid, then dragged a piece of Fabriano through and left to dry with no dabbing off. Next I stamped the Walking Together stamp from Bee Crafty with black versafine, cleaned the stamp and inked just the large circle element to stamp along the side and also just the bottom section of the stamp to fill in across the base. The sentiment is Chocolate Baroque.

'B' is for Branches, Birds, Believe and Blue

And another I made for Bee Crafty using quite a few Bee Crafty stamps, Branches, Poppy, Sentiment, Teasels and Leaves. I gave some details of how I made the base card here a while ago here so won't bore you with it again. I used Oxides to create the backgrounds, the stamped the images, added some texture paste with a stencil and bleached out the colour from the Poppy.

The new Butterfly Challenge started this week and the colour palette really appealed to me and I beleive I have managed to incorporate all seven elements which are: Electric Yellow, Embossing Powder, Eucalyptus, Embellishments, Emerald, Embossing Folder and of course a Butterfly. I stamped the Penny Black flowers with black versafinre and heat embossed with detail clear powder, then coloured in with sparkle pens, one of which is actually called Emerald and the brightest yellow I had.

I then cut it out and stamped the little Butterfly sitting on the stem a second time and decoupaged. The background was washed with two shades of green DI the closest I could find to the requisit colours and yellow, dried and embossed with a TL folder, fixed he flowers in place and added a bow and two little embellishments.

And as promised a couple of photos of Clover, our new Great Granddog. Ever since she was little Anysia has wanted a Dalmation and we knew that once she and Sam bought their first house it wouldn't be long. She is now nine weeks old and adorable, they have had her for a week and already she knows her name and we have had lots of puppy cuddles.

I hope you will pop over to the challenge blogs and see what my team mates have created to inspire you and look forward to seeing all your creations.

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Never stop making wishes

Morning Peeps, time for our new Allsorts challenge which I am hosting and the theme is 'Things with Wings', Butterflies, Bugs, Birds, Fairies, the choice is yours. I am also posting over at the Chocolate Baroque blog today, you can find my artwork further down.

Starting with a piece of Fabriano I used Pan Pastels to create a background, then I used a stencil and DI's to sponge some sun rays..............or they could be moon rays............that one is down to intrpretation! I stamped the Lavinia Fairy with black versafine, then my all time favourite stamp Stampendous P107, Agapanthus cluster as it works really well with the Lavinia image. Finally some toadstools, foliage and a little mouse all of which are Lavinia. The sentiment is a pretty old one from Stamp Addicts although I don't think it's available anmore.

Here's another I found lurking in my files, it's one I made ages ago for Tattered Lace but never blogged. The Rare Earth image was stamped with versafine black and coloured in with sparkle pens, I stamped the Peacocks tail and some of the flowers a second time and decoupaged, then matted with TL pearl border frames.

Today I am also posting over at the Chocolate Baroque DT blog, all details of my work can be found there but these are the stamps and stencils used which are all available on the CB web site here: Indian Elephant, Indian Textiles, Paisley Elephant, Natures Paisley, Amazing Mackintosh Words Silhouette Palace 1 and Silhouette Palace 2 on the card above and the little acetate book below.

Indian Elephant, Indian Textiles, Paisley Elephant, Natures Paisley, Amazing Mackintosh Words Silhouette Palace 1 and Silhouette Palace 2. 

Have a good weekend everyone.

 

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Lets get musical, a Snippet and Rudolph Day's

Morning Peeps, time for our new Allsorts challenge and we are back to our normal weekly challenges. It's Wendy's week to host and her chosen theme is 'Music', We have a super prize of Tattered Lace dies on offer so do pop over to the challenge blog and join us.

An update on this weeks telephone consultation with Papworth Hospital which I mentioned last week. Well what a waste of time that was, it took all of a minute and all I was asked was my religion and nationality, I am sure that is vitally important to the state of my lung, they said I have been "prioritised" and have an urgent appointment in just under four weeks time. If that is urgent goodness only knows how long one waits for a routine appointment.

Back to my creation for this week and I knew instantly what I would use for the theme, it's a sample I made for Bee Crafty some time back but never blogged. My starting point was to use Pixie powders and lots of water to create the inky background blowing the wet mixture to spread it into 'dribbles'. I used my Timmy stamp platform to stamp th image with black versafine, I find the positioner really helpful with silhouette stamps as it gives you the opportunity to stamp several times to get a deep impression. The sentiment is Penny Black.

And a share for the new Rudolph Days over at Mo's, they do seem to come round quickly. It's a Chocolate Baroque TV sample from last month's TV shows using the lovely Serena image which I stamped with versafine black and coloured in, cut out with a TL die and mounted onto an emossed Holly background, the folder is also TL. A CB sentiment and some organze ribbon.

And here's one for the current Snippets Playground challenge over at Miss Di's. Now I'll be the fist to admit I'm not very frugal with paper and cardstock, my waste bin is testament to that, but here I had to be as I only had one sheet of the pink left. So I cut the smaller layer from the middle of the larger and it worked OK giving a large enough margin so did exactly the same with the white layers and I hope that can be classed as snippets. The Rose image is Stamp Addcits, stamped coloured and some glossy accent rain drops.

Happy weekend all and we look forward to seeing all your music inspired creations over at Allsorts.

 

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Butterflies and blossoms

Morning Peeps, a bit of a photo heavy post as today I am sharing some more creations from the recent Hochanda Chocolate Baroque shows over on the DT blog here, also my mid month inspiration for both Penny Black and More and Stamping Sensations challenges.

Not happy at all with the NHS, heard nothing after my last CT scan in June so assumed all was OK. Apparantly not, this week I receive a letter as I had been "lost in the system", still a problem with my left kidney but more worrying it picked up something on my right lung and I have been referred to Papworth Hospital. And it gets worse, I have a "telephone consultation" with a chest specialist on Wednesday, I know GP's do it but I expected better from such a prestigious hopsital. OK rant over!

My Stamping Sensations piece uses more stamps from this months sponsor Rubber Dance, I stasted with a Distress Ink background, a stenciled window and added Butterflies and Daisies from RD, stamping Butterflies several times to cut out and decoupage.

And a second Stamping sensations creation using the Butterflies again and the Crazy Flowers stamped onto a Distr ess Ink background.

Next my Chocolate Baroque shares, full details of stamps used and how I made them can be found on the link above to the DT blog.

And last but by no means least my Penny Black shares where our theme is 'I spy with my little eye something beginning with B'. Another tag, I rather liked the colours on the one I shared a couple of weeks ago so I went with the same but using Penny Black stamps and stencils.

"B" for Butterflies, Blooms and Braid

B's are Blossom (and the name of the stamps), Blue and Birthday

There is still plenty of time to join in our challanges as they run until 29th August.

Happy weekend all.

 

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Boys to Men

Morning Peeps, time for our new Allsorts challenge and it's the last of our fortnightly ones covering the holiday period, we will be back to normal again next time round. Apologies I've not been round to visit much this week, we have a very poorply doggie who has taken most of our time this week.

Tracy chose the theme of 'Boys to Men' but I am doing the post for her as she is understandably still not up to crafting following the loss of her son Scott. We have a super prize on offer again from Marianne Designs so do pop over to the challenge blog to take a peek. 

So I have two male orientated cards and both have a touch of the Ocean about them. The top one was a recent Chocolate Baroque TV sample featuring stamps from Seaside Scenes and Seaside Dreams.......try sayig that one quickly! I stamped the shell border onto some Kraft card, highlighted with a white pen, cut out the top edge and then fixed an oblong TL die in place behing the border to create an aperture with the shells still in place. Next I stamped the scene and added just a little colour with Pan Pastls, fixed behind the frame with foam pads and finally coiled some string.

I made this one some time ago and found it lurking in my picture file so Tracy's theme seems the ideal time to use it. I used Pan Pastels and a stencil to create the rope border, then stampd the focal image and coloured in with pencils. Next I stamped the quote and used a piece of a wooden  kebab skewer and string to make it into a sail shape.

And here is Poppy when she came home Thursday. The previous week we were back and forth to the vet who seemed to think we were overbearing 'parents' and said it was just a abscess on her anal glad and prescribed antibiotics. By last Sunday monring she was so poorly and our own vet refused to refer us to a specialist so I called a totally different practice about 40 minutes away who one of our son's uses, they said come immediately and diagnosed a Pyometra. 

They operated and it was touch and go for a few days and we were going there 2/3 times a day to see her but she is home now and eating (well chichen that is) and drinking but still needing carrying out to the loo sometimes. So the labradores are enjoying a bit of respite as she is normally in charge of them and suffice to say all three are now registered with the new vets practice. Hope you like her pink buster collar, so much nicer than those rigid things.

As it's a two week challenge again I hope it will give you plenty of time to join in with something for the guys who for many of us present a problem when it comes to making cards for them.

 

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Live every moment

"B" is for Blooms, Butterfly and Bricks

Morning Peeps, editing this post I realised the title is rather approrpiate for our youngest son and partner who left on their year long travels a few days ago. We waved them and their two dogs off in their custom built motorhome van and first reposts from France as they head for Florence were positive. Mind you they told me yesterday that they have yet to test out the wet room and instead been using the facilities at the overnight French Aire's. 

They will be combining their photographic profession along with althletic races which they regularly partcate in across the world. We so hope we can fly out to see them at some point but as they are the ones who horse and dog sit for us when we go away it might be a tad tricky to arrange.

So onto craft and it's time for our  new challenges at Stamping Sensations and Penny Black and More where our themes are 'Anything Goes with current Favourite Stamp' and 'I Spy'. As always there are wonderful prizes to be won at both. I also have a few Chocolate Baroque pieces to share from last months shows on Hochands TV as well as my my Snippets Playground, Butterfly Challenge and Rudolph Days shares, the only three challenges I enter usually and here they are like buses all in one go. 

My first PB&M card at the top used quite an oldie 2666K Blush along with the matching die which is more recent called Bashful as the focal elements. I started with a Distress Oxide background followed by some stenciled bricks using texture pased coloured with a little acrylic pain to take off the harshness of the white. I then inked just the script sections of  another oldish wood mounted stamp called Rosa and rangomly stamped, then spamped with flowers inking the stamp with Distress Markers and cut out with the die. The sentiment is from Happy Wishes, masked and each section stamped individually to creat three pieces.

My Stamping Sensations shares feature some new stamps from this months sponsor Rubber Dance, their stamps were new to me and I have to say I rather enjoyed working with them. My first piece is a grayboard tag which has been treated to lots of gesso, ancylic pain, ink and crackleglaze then Cornflowers stamped along the bottom and side and painted with white gesso, some randon stenciling then the Butterfly Trio stamped, cut out and layered up to add deimension. Finally a sentiment which is CB.  The Butterflies are all made from snippets so is my entry to the Snippets Playground. I would also like to enter this into Lost Coast Designs new Anything Goes challenge, I was invited to link up to their last challenge with my black and blue tag in my previous post and just discovered Random Or., selected my entry so it seems only right to join in again.

This one again has an Distress Oxide base, a sponged sun, Cornflowers stamped randomly using the same colour Oxide, then flowers and stems from Crazy Flower, coloured with the same inks, cut out and decoupages, a Butterfly from Butterfly Trio and sentiment again CB.

'B' for Birds, Branches and Buds

My final PB&M piece uses the tree scene together with some branches and buds from, some colouring added with Pan Pastels and a sun, then finally the Birds on a Wire stamped to the left, the lines extended with a black fine liner then just one of the birds stamped.......Billy no mates maybe!!

The Butterfly Challenge this time round is all about things beginning with 'F' and I have managed all seven elements, Fuchsia, French Blue and Ferrari Red (flowers and Butterfly) Flowers (the stamp itself) Frame it (image framed by masking and using DI's) More than on Fold (easel has two) and of course the Butterfly. All stamps are Penny Black and stamped using DI's direct to stamp.

And here are my CB shares, all the details of stamps and how I made them can be found on my post over at the CB blog. And I figure any one of these will fit in nicely with the current Rudolph Days challenge over at Mo's, it's a little later than usual as she has been on holiday here in the UK.

Have a good Sunday all and I hop you will join our challenges this month.

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