The Eyes...

Good morning all.

Well all the fruit has been dealt with...I think I'm all strawberried out for this year! The eyes last night were on the skies...the boys went off up the hills with their mates to get the best view. We had a good view of the space station from the back garden and I did see a little activity before my neck cricked!

I haven't played over at Less is More regularly for a while now with holidays and such but when I saw this weeks prompt I knew I had some NBUS stamps in my collection which were perfect.

This is a JOFY stamp from Paper Artsy, inked with versamark and heat embossed with white EP. I used a Spellbinders die to create a mask and using twisted citron, peacock feathers and mermaid lagoon DI's inked over the image...a quick dust and polish and Bob's your Uncle!

Challenges entered:
Less is More - the eyes have it
Happy Little Stampers CAS - masking
Addicted to Stamps - make your mark
Sweet Stamps - anything goes
Sweet Stampin - anything but birthday

Strawberries and Roses!

Good morning all.

Hubby decided we would go strawberry picking yesterday...it did seem a good idea at the time! 9kg of fruit picked and 6kg of it hulled, washed, frozen and bagged later I'm beginning to wonder!!

Thankfully the strawberries are off the ground, I don't think my back could have stood up to bending down to pick! Younger son was happy (not) to serve us but we did get his staff discount. We also got some blackberries. redcurrants and gooseberries. The freezer is going to be full of lots of fodder for making smoothies over winter.

Some more photos of my roses too...top left is Silver Wedding and the other photos are of one plant called Designer Sunset, it's absolutely loaded with blooms....the colours of this are gorgeous and both roses smell divine. I'm keeping all my roses in pots for now until we finally move again...which may or may not be anytime soon!

So very little crafting going on although I did manage to put a coat of paint on the current projects lying on my desk

Merry Christmas

Good morning all.

A few niggles with Windows 10 but not regretting downloading it. Quite liking the new browser and finding it less hassle for blogging...no missing graphics from everyone's posts but I haven't yet found a way to pin open pages as you can do in Chrome which makes things look a bit messy! There was a problem over the weekend with only the HTML button showing when I went to write a new post but this has corrected itself. My Family Tree Maker won't open but I think if I remove it and reload it I can get around the problem until a fix is released. All told I'd recommend downloading it!

Another Christmas card to share today.

The stamps are from The Artistic Stamper and were part of my recent win at their challenge. Dies from Spellbinders and backing papers from Bearly Mine...all layered onto kraft cardstock.

Challenges entered:

Christmas Card Challenges - anything goes

CHNC - something beginning with S (Santa, snowflake, stripe, sentiment)

Crimbo Crackers - Santa

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

The Artistic Stamper - anything goes

Christmas Card Club "Lots of Layers"

Good morning all.

I was brave yesterday and updated to Windows 10...it downloaded no problems and so far I like what I see - once I'd worked out where all my files were stored that is!!

Another two weeks have flown past and it's time for our little Christmas Card club reveal. Lorraine set us the challenge of using lots of layers this time.

I finally managed to make a start on my special cards. Topper is from Wild Rose Studios; papers are from DoCraft; circle and square dies are from Spellbinders; snowflakes are from Paper Smooches; poinsettias and fir from Marianne Designs; sentiment from LOTV. I've added some stickles to finish things off.

This one will be hand delivered so didn't need to be flat.

You'll find a list of the girls on my sidebar if you'd like to see their take on the theme...you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

CHNC - something beginning with S (stripes, snowflakes, snow, scarf, sentiment)

Jingle Belles - photo inpiration...I used the colours

ABC Christmas Challenge - P for polka dots

Christmas Cards all Year Round - snowflakes

A Gem of a Challenge - animals or birds

Brown Sugar - anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

Moving along with the Times - snow in summer

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Papers - anything goes

Blossom like a Butterfly

Good afternoon all.

I've had lots of lovely baby cuddles from Seb...he's gorgeous and really good too.

Today it's my turn to inspire you over on the ARTplorations blog with a tutorial. Here is my project...click on the link to see how I made it. 

Today's make is an Artist Trading Block made using a recycled stamp block (I've got quite a few of these waiting to be used!).

Products used:

• ARTplorations - Shower of Flutters, Bloom Factory, Foiled, Foiled Again, Nestled Circles, Bubbles and Gridlocked.
• STAMPlorations - Mixed Media Grunge, Trendy Butterflies and Blossom like a Butterfly.
• Others - acrylic paints, gel medium, Wendy Vecchi embossing powder, black gesso.

Challenges entered:

That Craft Place - anything goes mixed media

We Love 2 Create - anything mixed media/creative goes

Our Creative Corner - Mexico moods

Mixed Media Mojo - anything goes

Country View Challenges - summertime

Golden Oldie

Good morning all.

Friday once more, don't know where my week has gone! I'm off to meet baby Seb today...he's already six weeks old, how did that happen??

Sharing an oldie with Erika again this morning and I'll be back later with my August tutorial for ARTplorations.

This one was made for a card swap in July 2009! Image and papers are from Joanna Sheen's Messy Rabbit CD.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

Good morning all.

Lora got her exam results on Tuesday...we were very pleased with how she did. She passed everything including her maths so only English to resit next year. Just waiting now to see if she gets a place on the biology course at college...we have to hope someone else failed their Nat 5 or changes their mind!

A quick decoupaged card to share today, made for a card swap.

Decoupaged image is a Paintbox Poppet from Crafter's Companion. Die is from Wplus9 and I used a Spellbinders die to cut the inside out of the frame.

Challenges entered:

Creative Moments - anything goes/summer sun

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

Paper Shelter - anything goes

Sisterhood of Crafters - summer heat

Crafty Boots - beach/summer vacation

Oh La La Creations - nautical

Country View Challenges - summertime

Die Cut Divas - favourite holiday (one by the seaside)

Dies R Us - summertime fun

Sparkles Forum - sun, sea and sand

HLS Christmas Challenge #2 "Sparkle"

Good evening all.

I've had an afternoon out with my friend today...a facial at the local spa followed by a leisurely lunch....it's always good to put the world to rights!

So pleased to be here sharing some inspiration for the second Christmas challenge at Happy Little Stampers. The theme this month is:

Here is my card:

One of my favourite dies from Poppy Stamps, cut from a Nestie square then mounted to the base card with some double sided foam. I then used red glitter to fill in the die cut blanks. A very simple but effective card and flat enough to post.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from the rest of the team, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. 

Challenges entered:

Sparkles Christmas Challenge - no dp's

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Crafting from the Heart - anything goes

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Perfectly Rustics - glitter

Sparkle and Sprinkle - anything goes with loose glitter/embossing powder/flock

ABC Challenge - o is for open

Always Something Creative - CAS

Paper Creators Crafts - die cut/punch

Happy Christmas

Good morning all.

A quiet day yesterday keeping the migraine at bay...I'll catch up with you all in a day or two as I can't spend too much time at the computer while it lingers!

This was meant to be my July Rudolph Day card but by the time it was finished and ready to post it was going to clash with my DT post so I saved it for another day.

This was to be a very quick card!! I'd planned in my mind to use this piece of gelli plate paper I'd saved from one of my early plays and team it with teal and red...so first thoughts when I got everything out was to use a die for a speedy card. Opened my drawer and found this snowflake from Impression Obsession which I was convinced I'd used before but turns out it's a NBUS. I cut it from the teal layer and dozens of passes later when I came to remove it from the die I discovered it came out in about four very fine parts.....urgh!!!! I was losing the will to live by now...

Deep breath and I put through a red version using bubble wrap to help the cutting along (it does help!). Lots of photo glue later I'd managed to stick everything together!!  The sentiment was a freebie from Tattered Lace. A gemstone finishes the card off.

Don't think I'll be repeating this experience any time soon which is a shame as I like the end result!

Challenges entered:

Winter Wonderland - Christmas Carol/Song (Snowflake by Jim Reeves)

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

Southern Girls - anything goes

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Whimsy Stamps - Christmas in July

Christmas Cards all Year Round - snowflakes

We Love to Create - anything mixed media/inky goes

CHNC - two of something (words)

Stencil Sunday #2 August

Good afternoon all.

Yesterday didn't quite go to plan when I was struck down by an almighty migraine! Several doses of pills down the line I rallied round enough to go out and enjoy the meal thankfully. Two out of three kids made it with us but my younger son had to work so my friend joined us instead. It was a very pleasant evening with lovely food.

A month gone and it's time once again to inspire you for our mixed media Stencil Sunday challenge at STAMPlorations. It was great to see so many entries to our first challenge. I have a canvas to share with you today.

This is one of those pieces which went horribly wrong!! I started with a small canvas board which I had painted with black gesso. I then used texture paste through the Happy Flowers stencil and once dried used Mica Powders to add some colour....the result was awful!! I didn't want to waste the canvas so after leaving it for several days I covered the whole canvas with plumbers tape and used various acrylic paints to build up the colour. I used various stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge set to stamp around the edges and background with black archival ink. To finish I used some Metallic Gilding Wax over the stencilled area. It now needs a black frame to finish it off I think!

The theme is always anything mixed media goes except a card and you must use at least one stencil (any brand) in your project. Linky closes at the end of the month.

Prizes: $15 gift certificate OR choice of any 2 ARTplorations stencils to the winner

choice of 1 ARTplorations stencil to the top picks.

 Looking forward to seeing all your creations.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see what my team mates have produced, you won't be disappointed!

Challenges entered:

Mixed Media World - stencils

The Artistic Stamper - anything goes

Mixed Media Mojo - anything goes

The Mirror Crack'd - canvas

That Craft Place - anything goes mixed media

Eclectic Ellapu "By the Sea"

Good morning all.

A new month and a year older...wonder what this year has in store for me!

With the new month comes a new challenge at Eclectic Ellapu. Yvonne has picked the theme of "By the Sea" for the Pink Team this time.

I started with a canvas board which hadn't turned out as planned and covered it with a napkin before painting with white gesso. The texture paste stencilling  was still evident so I positioned the canvas with this in the bottom right corner to give the sand some texture. Once dry I used antique linen crackled paint and two shades of blue chalk frescoes from Paper Artsy to paint my background. My image is a Paintbox Poppet decoupage from Crafter's Companion which I've framed with my die from Wplus9; the sentiment, cloud and sunshine die are also from the same set. The seagull and compass stamps are from Kanban and I've stamped onto tissue paper. I've used some dark blue ink to stamp around the edges with a stamp from The Mixed Media set from STAMPlorations.

This  was one of those pieces which had no plan and just evolved as I went along...I love how it turned out....and my canvas didn't go to waste :)

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from the other girls, you won't be disappointed. The Purple Team have a recipe for this month - 3 dies, 2 stencils and 1 sentiment.

Challenges entered:

Stamps and Stencils - happy holidays

Simon Says Stamp - anything goes

Die Cuttin Divas - the great outdoors

Crafty Cardmakers - anything but a card

Simon says Stamp - not ordinary paper (used a napkin)

Altered Eclectics - anything MM goes

Rhedd's Creative Challenge - anything MM goes

Sparkles Monthly - sun, sea and sand

The Mirror Crack'd - canvas

Anything but a Card - anything goes

Golden Oldie

Good morning all.

Domestic goddess hat on today...don't want to have to do anything tomorrow as it's my birthday! Apparently I'm being taken out for dinner and the kids have been commanded to attend too...we'll see what happens tomorrow!

I'm off to visit Erika and share a golden oldie just for fun. Today I'm sharing a get well card made for eldest after he had maxillofacial surgery when he was 18...can't believe it's 7 years ago.

The image is off an Andy Carolan CD and the papers are from Hot off the Press.

Enjoy your weekend whatever you're up to.

Happy Birthday to you

Good morning all.

Well yesterday was a bit of a washout and today isn't looking much better! I'm off to the hairdresser's later, then getting my nails done. Hope it fairs up so I can walk there and back....I need the exercise!

Sharing another birthday card today.

The lovely Becca is hosting a Birthday Bash Link-up to which everyone is invited, here is the mood board to get your creative juices going. She has some fabulous prizes on offer!

I was inspired by the bird and the colours to create my card.

This is a real snippet buster....all the card was in the bit box! Die is my favourite from Wplus9, the sun also comes from the same set. Embossing folder is from Crafter's Companion which I sprayed with distress spray...this was a piece made for another project which didn't work. The Tim Holz Crazy Bird from Stampendous and Clearly Besotted sentiment are stamped onto some of the leftover bits from my very first gelli plate play.

Challenges entered:

Becca's Birthday Bash - mood board

Bloggers - the letter B (bird, blue, birthday)

Fussy and Fancy - things with wings

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

Creative Artiste - anything mixed media with texture and spray mists

plus colour palette

Seize the Birthday - anything goes

Southern Girls - get messy with ink and paint
Dream Valley - embossing wet/dry
Not Just Card - anything goes
One Crazy Stamper - anything goes

Happy Birthday

Good morning all.

A lazy day was had yesterday although I did change the bed and do three loads of washing! The weather isn't looking too good this week so a good excuse to craft.

A birthday card to share today, made for my Uncle who turns 87 this week.

Using my favourite die from Wplus9, cut from a snippet of white card lying on my desk and mounted to the base with foam. Stamps are all from STAMPlorations (Vignette: Celebrate Artsy and Holiday Artsy), stamped with various distress inks and black archival. Sentiment from Wild Rose Studio stamped and heat embossed with white EP. A few sequins to finish.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - use snippets

Wishing Chrissie a very happy 70th birthday!

A Gem of a Challenge - birthday wishes

Happy Little Stampers CAS - stamping

CASology - lines

STAMPlorations - stamps and distressing

Christmas Card Club "Let it Snow"

Good morning all.

After spending Friday doing chores (including the basket of ironing) yesterday was spent crafting. I managed to finish some projects which had been sitting around since before my holidays and do some DT work.

Another two weeks have passed so it must be time for us girls to share our Christmas Card Club makes. the lovely Christine set the theme this time with "Let it Snow".

The bauble die is from Joanna Sheen's Signature Dies and was newly purchased just before my holidays. The embossing folder is from Spellbinders - this is an oblong folder but I positioned it to leave a top edge to match the sides and allowed the bottom to emboss over the edge. Sentiment is from Woodware Stamps. Finished with some black twine and a few gemstones. Another flat one for posting!

If you'd like to see the other girl's take on the challenge you'll find their names on my sidebar.

Challenges entered:

ABC Christmas - off the edge

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

The Glory of Christmas - feature a creature

Sparkles Forum Christmas - ribbon, lace or twine

The Crafty Calendar - Christmas in July

My Time to Craft - Christmas in July

Creative Corner - Christmas in July

Fussy and Fancy - things with wings

Crafter's Cafe - Christmas in July

Whimsy Stamps - Christmas in July

Forever

Good afternoon all.

Today it's my turn to inspire you over on the ARTplorations blog with a tutorial. Here is my project...click on the link to see how I made it.

I've recycled a photo frame....one of a string of three, the other two containing photos of the boys are still to be done.

Challenges entered:

Mixed Media World - stencils

Recycle, Re-Purpose and Re-Invent - anything goes

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything mixed media goes

Altered Eclectics - anything mixed media goes

The Mirror Crack'd - canvas

Golden Oldie

Good morning all.

Off to join Erika to share a golden oldie this morning...I'll be back to share my first tutorial for ARTplorations this afternoon.

Today's share was first aired in 2011 and the original post can be found here. The papers and images were from Crafty Ann's and this was one of my DT inspiration pieces.The front was a bowed piece of acetate...this was given to my Mum and I've no doubt it's still tucked in a cupboard somewhere!

Challenges entered:

Thursday Throwback #11 - shaped card

$25,000 Reward

Good morning all.

Things are slowly returning to normal here and I hope I've caught up with most of you by now. A slow internet connection and the Ipad are not conducive to frequent blogging - hence my absence for two weeks.

Spent yesterday down home as it was my nephew's birthday, along with his Mum and Dad's wedding anniversary and as I was running late with the birthday card I had to hand deliver!

I finally made it into the craft room on Tuesday but the mojo is still hiding in the suitcase or perhaps under the pile of ironing I've managed to create! This is the card I made for my nephew....luckily the wedding anniversary card was made some time ago.

I made a similar card for my BIL last year and Jack asked me to make him one this year so I knew where this one was going. The backing paper was the waste paint piece from a gelli plate play (the results of which you may or may not see in the future!) which I ran through a Crafter's Companion brick wall embossing folder which I'd inked with black soot DI....I love how it turned out! The reward stamp was a magazine freebie...I managed to print the photo the right size and overstamp perfectly first time before heat embossing with black EP and cutting with a nestie die....love it when things go right first time!

The happy birthday die and stamp are from Whimsy Stamps and I finished with a smattering of sequins....I've had a few comments in the past from people who love sequins but feel they never manage to place them right....please know I belong in the same group! So if I can do it so can you!!

Challenges entered:

Crafty Gals Corner - to die for

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

Top Tip Tuesday - Bingo (embossing, sentiment, punches/dies)

Card Mania - anything goes

Craft Your Passion - anything goes

Dream Valley - embossing wet/dry

Fashionable Stamping - all about men

Penny Black and More - anything goes with a sentiment

We Love to Create - anything mixedmedia/creative/inky goes

A Gem of a Challenge - birthdays

Enjoy the Journey

Good afternoon all. Arrived home safely last night to an intact, if a little untidy, house. Washing machine has been working overtime and after a trip around with the hoover things are looking more like I left things!

An upcycled stamp block to share today as inspiration for the STAMPlorations stencil Sunday challenge blog.

A few seconds in the microwave to remove the rubber stamp and a willing hubby to drill a hole for me and I was ready to go. After a couple of coats of black gesso I used some design paper to cover the front and back of the block. Words were stamped and embossed with black detail EP. Background was stamped in various distress inks. I then used the Shutters stencil and texture paste on the sides, covering with embossing powder before drying and heat embossing. Photo holder was bought from Ebay.

A close up of the stencilling.

Mixed Media Grunge

Trendy Butterflies

Shutters Stencil

Challenges entered:
Recycle, Re-Purpose and Re-Invent - anything goes
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything goes
Altered Eclectics - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday - anything goes