Welcome Baby Girl!

Good evening all.

I'm back from a relaxing couple of days away, weather wasn't too bad and we managed to dodge the odd showers. I've been on tenterhooks all weekend though as I had limited wifi and Shery our lovely boss and owner at STAMPlorations had gone into labour on Friday....us girls have been getting a tad excited over our imminent STAMPbaby.

Fabulous news.....a happy, healthy little STAMPbaby named Kathryn Corazon was born last night. Congratulations to the Russ family!

To celebrate us STAMPloration girls are having a surprise blog hop.



Here's my card:

Background is made with distress paints and an acrylic block. Dies from Wplus9 and Spellbinders. Stamps are all from STAMPlorations Heaven Sent set. Finished with some sequins.

Do pop over to the blog to see what the other girls have made and feel free to join us to celebrate this happy little event.

Challenges entered:

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - make your own background

Alphabet challenge - N for no design papers

Simply Create Too - it's a special occasion

Cute Card Thursday - monochrome

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes

Golden Oldie

Good morning all.

Weather not been too bad here this week, just hope it stays okay over the weekend as we're off up to Pitlochry for a couple of nights. Not done an awful lot of crafting apart from DT stuff the past couple of days so no scheduled posts for over the weekend.

We went house viewing again on Wednesday...found something only about a mile from where we live which we're expressing an interest in but we need to get some flood risk assessments done before we can think of making an offer....hence yesterday afternoon was spent speaking to estate agents and solicitors instead of doing the ironing - that got done about 11pm last night!!

Popping over to Erika's to share another oldie today and since I've been in Christmas card mode I thought I'd share some of my 2009 specials with you.

Toppers were all from Flower Soft, I think these photos were taken before I added the "snow". These would go to my brother and three sisters so would have had personalised sentiments added to them.

Have a good weekend whatever you're up to and I'll catch you all at the beginning of the week.

Rudolph Day

Good afternoon all.

Another lovely day today and just back from the hairdressers so had a relaxing morning. Doctor managed to get blood first time yesterday from my right arm so the nurse had to use my left arm to inject the dye for my scan...I'm a little bruised and battered today, oh to have some prominent veins somewhere!

Another month is nearly over so we've reached Rudolph Day...here is my offering which I managed to make last night.

I'm making a concerted effort at the minute to get some of my special Christmas cards done and dusted...this is only number three so still a few more to go!

Topper is from Wild Rose Studio, die cuts all from Spellbinders, papers and bow from Docrafts, sentiment from LOTV, border punch from Tonic and button and gems from my stash. I've used a similar layout to my other two specials so making a little dent in my stash of backing papers.

Challenges entered:

Rudolph Day - August challenge

A Snowflakes Promise - anything Christmas goes

Christmas Card Challenges - anything goes

Crimbo Crackers - snowmen

ABC Christmas - Q for quantum leap ( c for colourful)

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Winter Wonderland - Christmas Carols or songs (Frosty the Snowman)

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - anything goes

Lucky

Good morning all.

Doctors appointment this morning which will probably incur blood tests and an MRI scan this afternoon which involves being pumped with dye...I just hope they can find some veins or I'll end up looking like a pin cushion!

Today's share is a small canvas. I bought a set of Gelatos quite some time ago and haven't really spent any time playing with them. I made amends yesterday and here is the result:

Using yellow, orange and red I scribbled over the canvas which I'd primed with gesso. I used a baby wipe to blend the colours. Then I decided to have a play with some Tim Holz goodies! Texture paste was applied through the sunburst stencil and left to dry. I stamped and die cut a Crazy bird from some waste gelli print card cutting the smaller pieces from contrasting card and glueing them in place. Sentiment was stamped on tissue with black archival. I used black soot DI to ink around the canvas then used gel medium to attach the sentiment and bird. Canvas was finished with some texty words.

Challenges entered:

A Vintage Journey - things with wings

Love to Create Challenge - anything mixed media/creative/inky goes

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Artistic Stampers - anything goes

Country View Crafts - summertime
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything goes

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - get texty

Christmas Card Club "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

Good morning all.

It's time once again for our little Christmas Card Club to show our wares...it was my turn to set the  theme of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".

Here is my make:

Using my favourite Father Christmas image from Joanna Sheen's Vintage Christmas CD. Papers are from DoCrafts. Mat dies are all from Spellbinders, reindeer from Tattered Lace and snowflake was a magazine freebie. Border punch from Tonic. Sentiment from LOTV. Finished with a few gems from my stash.

I've used virtually the same layout as my last CCC card and that's another special to add to the pile.

You'll find a list of the girls in my sidebar if you'd like to see their interpretation of my theme.

Challenges entered:

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

ABC Christmas - Q for quantum leap (d for die cuts)

A Snowflakes Promise - anything goes

Christmas Cards all Year Round - snowflakes

Winter Wonderland - Carol's or songs (Santa Claus is Coming to Town)

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - anything goes

Spotlight Week Day 5

Good afternoon all.

It's Day 5 of Spotlight Week over at STAMPlorations and sadly the final day. We've had some gorgeous inspiration from my team mates.

Spotlight on FRAMES AND FLOWERS

Remember you have to comment to win and the more comments you leave the more chances you have of winning! Commenting closes on August 23. Winners will be announced on August 24.

Check out what the team have made today! You'll find links to all the projects here.

Golden Oldie

Good morning all.

Gosh it was so muggy here last night, whilst I like warm weather I do prefer a cool evening! Domestic goddess duties calling this morning then it's off for some pampering this afternoon.

As it's Friday I'm off to join Erika to share a Golden Oldie.

My share today is a tag from 2011, the original post of which can be found here. The background is done with distress inks using a Tim Holz technique....sadly the link no longer works but I think the technique involved heat embossing one colour then inking over with the other so it just filled the white spaces (I could be wrong though!).

Image is from Polka Doodles, mounted on a SP bauble and a gold glittered snowflake.

Challenges entered:

Throwback Thursday #12 - techniques

Spotlight Week Day 4

Good afternoon all.

Another warm and sunny day...typical after the kids go back to school!

It's day 4 of the spotlight week over at STAMPlorations, I hope you're enjoying hopping along with us each day...remember you have to comment to win!

http://stamplorations.blogspot.com/2015/08/stamp-spotlight-week-day-4.html

Spotlight on HOUSESEXTRAS

Check out what the the team have made today! You'll find links to all our projects here.

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Prizes:

• FIVE (5) commenters randomly drawn from the designers' blogs will each win the stamp set featured for the day.
• ONE (1) commenter randomly drawn from the STAMPlorations blog will win a $25 gift certificate

STAMPlorations DAY 3 July Stamps Spotlight Week - FOND EXPRESSIONS 2

Good afternoon all.

This is my second post today...click here if you'd like to see my guest design card for Freshly Made Sketches 200th challenge.

It's a spotlight week over at the STAMPloration blog and today I get to inspire you all using stamps from FOND EXPRESSIONS 2.

Spotlight on FOND EXPRESSIONS 2

Here is my project:

I've opted to do some journalling pages. I started by adding some stencilling using texture paste, added some pieces of tape from my last STAMPlorations delivery and did some stamping with black archival ink. Everything was then coated with white gesso, once dry I used distress paints in Mermaid Lagoon, Cracked Pistachio and Abandoned Coral randomly over the pages. Once all the paint was dry I did some more stamping with black archival. All the sentiments were stamped onto tissue and applied with gel medium.

Products used:

ARTplorations stencils - Oh My Stars, Hearts all Over and Gridlocked.

STAMPlorations stamps - Fond Expressions 2, Mixed Media Grunge, Artsy Border Maker and Trendy Butterflies.

And some close ups to show the details:

As always at STAMPlorations there are lots of fabulous prizes up for grabs to those who comment here and on the other girls blogs.

Prizes:

• FIVE (5) commenters randomly drawn from the designers' blogs will each win the stamp set featured for the day.
• ONE (1) commenter randomly drawn from the STAMPlorations blog will win a $25 gift certificate

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all our projects here.

Challenges entered:
Mixed Media Monthly - get texty

We Love 2 Create - anything goes mixed media
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything MM goes

Freshly Made Sketches 200th Challenge

Good afternoon all.

Well thank goodness someone in the house was prepared for going back to school today....in my head it wasn't going to happen until next week! Lora is most disappointed not going to college but they can't offer her all her course choices and it's all but impossible to contact them. Just waiting now to see how long it takes the accommodation provider to respond!

My first post today...I'll be back again soon with my inspiration for the STAMPlorations spotlight week.

Freshly Made Sketches are celebrating their 200th challenge today and since Shery from STAMPlorations is one of the many sponsors us design girls were asked to join in.

Here is my make:

I started by masking off an area of my Wplus9 die cut and used a paint splatter technique with acrylic blocks to create my pattern. I used twisted citron, cracked pistachio, peacock feather and picket fence distress paints...pooled them onto my mat and sprayed with water then applied them to my card with an acrylic block. You need to dry each colour and keep layering until you get the desired effect. 

Sentiment is from STAMPlorations Fond Expressions 2 set. I added a few sequins to finish and propped the die cut on foam to add to the base card.

and here is the sketch:

Challenges entered:

Happy Little Stampers CAS - masking

AAA - maskerade

Die Cuttin Divas - celebrate it

The Sisters of Craft - anything goes

Great Impressions - add a sentiment

Pile it On - bright colours

Spotlight Week Day 2

Good afternoon all.

Typical - yesterday was blazing sunshine when we had no plans, today when we're going to look at a property it's peeing down!

It's day 2 of the Stamp Spotlight Week at STAMPlorations.

Spotlight on BALLOONS AND BANNERS

Lots of inspiration from my team mates, prizes to be won and special offers to be had!

Spotlight Week

Good afternoon all on this glorious Monday....sun shining, washing blowing in the breeze and...

...today sees the start of the Stamp Spotlight Week at STAMPlorations.

To kick things off, we're putting the spotlight on the World Birthday Cakes set designed by Shirley for her stamp line, The Bee's Knees.

Lots of inspiration from some of my team mates, fabulous prizes to win and some special offers too...what are you waiting for!

Our Precious Little One

Good afternoon all.

Yesterday turned into a lazy day mostly with a little of crafting for good measure.

An upcycled stamp block to share today as inspiration for the STAMPlorations Stencil Sunday challenge. This was a present for my nephew and his wife whose first son arrived at the end of June.



I started by making a mood board with my small gelli plate, acrylic paints and lots of stencils. I then cut a couple of pieces out to fit onto my stamp block, which I'd painted with white gesso.

Stencils used: Hearts Tumbled, Shutters, Oh My Stars, Dots and Dashes, Hearts all Over, Gridlocked, Nestled Circles, Bubbles, Foiled and Foiled Again.

Both pieces were stamped around the edges with black archival ink before being attached with gel medium. I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment for the front side onto tissue paper and attached with gel medium. The reverse side was computer generated onto tissue paper and attached with gel medium. The sides were stamped and heat embossed with Wendy Vecchi EP.

Stamps used: Heaven Sent and Mixed Media Grunge, Artsy Border Maker.

Project is finished with a small bow and a "handmade with love" charm. My photo holder was a job lot from Ebay.

Challenges entered:

Unruly Paper Arts - manly

Art Journey - blue and white

The Artistic Stamper - anything goes

Mixed Media Monthly - get texty

That Craft Place - blue

Merry Xmas

Good morning all.

It was pretty miserable here yesterday and rained most of the day, however the forecast is good for the next few days and the rain was probably needed! It did mean the housework (whispers) got done and I did manage some time in the craft room last night.

Another quick Christmas card to share today.

Another of my stamps from Artistic Stamper which I won recently, simply stamped in Memento ink, die cut with a square nestie and layered onto (some very old) coordinating card stock.

Challenges entered:

Polkadoodles - use something new (stamp)

Simply Create Too - anything goes

Simply Papercraft - anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

Stempelsonnen - anything goes

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

CHNC - something old (card stock)

Crafty Friends - clean and simple

A Snowflake Promise - anything Christmas/winter goes

Golden Oldie

Good morning all.

Well I got bitten to pieces when out star gazing on Wednesday evening...my decollatege resembles a dot to dot puzzle! Too cloudy here last night to see anything though we'd had a lovely day.

Off to share a golden oldie with Erika today as once again it's Friday. This is just for fun but it's nice to look back and see how your crafting style has changed over the years.

I've gone back to 2008...this was one of my favourite images from Joanna Sheen's Jayne Netley Mayhew CD. Papers are also from the same CD. This was a commissioned card for an 80th birthday. This was a great CD was those hard to cater for males and this image made a fun card.....I used it several times.

Domestic goddess duties call today then I've got several inky, painty projects on the go that I want to make progress with. Catch you later!