Stencil Sunday #63

Good afternoon all.

It's certainly feeling more autumnal than summer now and I can't believe how quick the nights are drawing in. Spent most of this week under the influence of a migraine so haven't achieved much other than necessary crafting for several days and kept away from the computer as much as possible too.....somebody please tell me that life does get better and hormones do eventually settle down again!!

It's time once more to show you a Stencil Sunday project over at STAMPlorations and like the weather this has definite autumnal vibes.

I used part of the leftover mood board from my project earlier this week which used the newly released Trendy Leaves 2 stamps. I added additional stencilling using Leaf Bliss (Large) and Dots all Over stencils with peacock feathers DI. Words are from the Bold Sentiments Believe stamps set and I cut an extra leaf with the matching dies and attached with foam pads. Ribbon from my stash.

Here you can see how I used the Leaf Bliss (Large) stencil with water to add a ghost pattern over the inking.

 I used the Luggage Tags Nesting Dies to make the tag.

Do pop over to the blog to see what the other girls have made, you won't be disappointed!

You still have plenty time to join our mixed media challenge this month but do remember we accept non-card projects only.

Trendy Leaves 2 Blog Hop

Good afternoon all.

We have a special new stamp release over at STAMPlorations today (with matching dies!) so we're having a mini blog hop...I do hope you can join us! Commenting closes September 9, Friday, 11:55 p.m. Pacific
Winner announced Sunday, September 11

Prize
1 commenter will be randomly drawn to win the Trendy Leaves 2 stamp set.

I have a few autumn birthdays coming up so these stamps were perfect.

I started by making a mood board using the new Trendy Leaves 2 (available at 10% off until September 13th!) stamps which I stamped in versamark ink and heat embossed with white EP, colour was added with various distress inks. I then stamped and embossed two more leaves and die cut them with the corresponding dies then coloured with DI. Sentiment is from the Party Time stamp set.

Stencil Sunday #62 + September Mixed Media Challenge

Good afternoon all.

Gosh September already...where has this year gone to? Time once more to inspire you to use your stencils and come over to join in our Mixed Media challenge at STAMPlorations, please remember we accept non-card projects only though.

Today I'm sharing a canvas. I started by downloading the free Color Bloom sampler onto thin card and adhered this to my canvas with gel medium...this caused the ink to run but the effect was quite nice. I used the Flutterby stencil with Radiant Gels then once dry coloured the canvas with various Distress Inks. I then used the Bold Florals stencil with crackle paste to make my flower, once dry I inked this with DI. I then stamped and heat embossed some flowers from the Big Bloom Factory set then stamped around the edges of the canvas using my favourite stamp from Mixed Media Elements. The words came from the Art Marks set.

Do pop over to the blog to see what the other girls have made, you won't be disappointed!

Mixed Media Tutorial "Create Art"

Good evening all.

It's my turn to inspire everyone today over on the STAMPlorations blog with a mixed media tutorial....I hope you will pop over to see how I recycled the packaging from new bedlinen to make this fun folder.

Stencil Sunday #61

Good afternoon all.

It's my turn to add some inspiration to the Stencil Sunday post at STAMPlorations today, I hope you like what I've made.

To make the background I used DecoArt Media Misters over first the Big Bloom Factory (large) stencil then, once dry I used the Leaf Bliss (large) stencil with a different colour. I love the fact you can layer these misters without any colours mixing and muddying. I then used Big Bloom Factory stamps to overstamp some of the background design then heat embossed with various colours of EP. Tags were cut using the new CUTplorations Luggage Tags Nesting. I stamped and embossed two of the flowers from Big Bloom Factory on waste card and fussy cut them to adhere to the top tag. Smile Word die was cut from white card for the larger tag. Ribbons and pearls are from my stash.

I hope you can pop over to the blog to see my teamies projects this month, you won't be disappointed.

You still have a few days to enter our Mixed Media challenge this month...remember non-card projects only!

Progress Report

Good morning all.

Finally getting around to taking some indoor photos! We're slowly getting there...busy emptying the loft of the old house and sorting everything before the new loft gets filled. All the Christmas decorations have been sorted and stored together under the stairs so they're easily accessible which will make life much easier come the time!

All the minor flaws in the kitchen were ironed out by the joiner last week and all my doors and drawers now sit straight and shut smoothly. Here are some pictures:

This is how it used to look...although these pictures from the brochure must have been well and truly photo-shopped as it wasn't this light in either of the rooms! We blocked up the second archway and moved the entrance to the utility room.

This is our version...

 

Cooking area..dual fuel Rangemaster oven, lots of drawers for crockery and pans. Archway through to dining room.

Looking over the island to the main storage (the utility door used to be to the RHS of the fridge and the archway where the plate rack is)....there is a breakfast bar on the other side of the island and the tap doubles as a kettle hence the tea/coffee tray in view. Dishwasher to left of sink and shelves for cookery books and bits and bobs either end.

My dresser and spice rack with the utility room entrance to the right. Double doors to the garden, we're about to build a porch on here to store all the coats, footwear and the dogs stuff as we have very little cupboard space in the house.

This is the brochure picture of outside the kitchen doors.

My large corner pantry....cupboards to the right and left (plus other side of fridge) are all pull out larders with metal baskets.

and my almost tidy utility room! It's nice to finally have a laundry room which doesn't double up as an entrance porch.

A close up of my storage jars...they came with the blank chalkboard labels which I immediately attached then had the light bulb moment of stamping the words on instead of chalking them!! I very carefully used the Sketchy Alphabet stamps from STAMPlorations and heat embossed in white...I'm rather pleased with the outcome!!

Christmas Card Club "Baubles"

Good morning all.

It's been a tad windy here, thankfully no damage though...although the forecast for the rest of the week looks lousy!! Supposed to have stonemasons here today replacing coping stones on the roof but it may prove too windy to put the scaffolding up..we'll see!

Yesterday was our fortnightly Christmas Card Club reveal day...so I'm late!! Margaret set us the theme of "Baubles". I remembered Saturday evening after spending the afternoon out for a meal to celebrate my nephew's 21st...not a great combination.

Apologies for the photo..I haven't found the ideal place to take them yet. When rifling through my Christmas drawer I came across this kit which was a magazine freebie...perfect for the job. The papers, chipboard bauble and the sentiment stamp were all part of the kit. I added a ribbon from my stash and heat embossed the sentiments.

If you'd like to see what the other girls made you'll find the list in my sidebar.

Stencil Sunday #58 + August Mixed Media Challenge

Good afternoon all.

Another month has passed and it's time once again to inspire you to put your stencils to good use and join us over at STAMPlorations in our mixed media challenge. Remember it's anything goes except cards and you must use a stencil, we'd love to see your creations.

I've upcycled a coaster for my project...I had a  "I could use these" moment when sorting out before we moved!

I wasn't sure whether the acrylic paint would take to the melamine surface of the coaster but gave it a try and after two or three coats I had a good coverage. I used Radiant Gels with the Dots all Over and Flutterby stencils to decorate....et voila!

This is how the coaster started life, the set was a wedding present so it's had a lot of use!

I hope you can pop over to the challenge to see my teamies projects this month, you won't be disappointed.

Christmas Card Club "Traditional Colours"

Good morning all.

It's been nice to see some sunshine this week but my goodness we did have the mother of all thunder and lightning storms the other day! Still busy trying to unpack and find homes for things plus getting the old house ready to put on the market so no rest for the wicked here.

We've been treated to our own personal airshow this weekend...we lie on a flight path and all the displays going to the local airshow flew over us at some point including the Red Arrows. Sadly neither the camera or phone were to hand at the time! Hubby has also seen a young badger in the garden, something I'd love to see.

Another two weeks have flown by and it's Christmas Card Club time again...this week Christine has asked to see "Traditional Colours". To me this means red, white and green with a little hint of gold....and I've made four of them!!

Die from Lil Inkers, simply matted and layered, ribbon/tinsel from my stash. Finished with a little gold stickles to the snowflakes.

I got to put my Christmas present through it's paces for these cards...hubby bought me a Spellbinder Platinum and it only came out of it's box last weekend! Loving it so far, though I must buy the bigger plates. My die was a present to myself after the kids ignored it on my Christmas list!!

If you'd like to see what the other girls have produced you'll find the list in my sidebar.

Christmas Card Club "Snowmen"

Good morning all.

Busy, busy, busy here....on the final leg as we're moving on Tuesday! (It's only taken us four months!). Going to be giving my kitchen a once over today and cleaning the oven ready for use. Getting excited now!!

Can't believe another fortnight has flown by though and it's time once more to share my little make for the Christmas Card Club. Lorraine has asked for "Snowmen"....one of my favourite themes :)

Image and sentiment stamps from Joanna Sheen...one of my all time favourites! Dies from Spellbinders and Wplus9. Still working with minimum supplies so I dived into the bit box to see what I had in the way of coloured card and since there were two pieces the same I made two cards....then I took another look to see what I could find...

and made two more! A third delve resulted in another two!!

So that's boosted my card tally somewhat...I don't usually make even two the same but needs must and it is cute...quick, easy and flat for posting...ticks all the boxes!! Will probably add some stickles later when I get up to the new craft room. I'll finally get to use my Christmas present which is still in it's box!

If you'd like to see what the other girls have produced you'll find the links in my sidebar.

To my blog candy winners...all parcels were posted first class on Wednesday afternoon. I hope you all enjoy your goodies finally!

Stencil Sunday #53 + July Mixed Media Challenge

Good afternoon all.

Another month has passed and it's time once again to inspire you to put your stencils to good use and join us over at STAMPlorations in our mixed media challenge. Remember it's anything goes except cards and you must use a stencil, we'd love to see your creations. Today we welcome some new girls to the design team, I'm sure you'll love their work as much as we do.

Today I have a framed canvas to share with you. I made this for my daughter's bedroom. I started by painting a layer of gesso on the canvas, once dry I gave it a couple of coats of the soft ivory matt emulsion used in the room...I saved the sample pots for this purpose! Once dry I used an Archival ink pad to stamp the script and border from the Mixed Media Elements set. The Rose Duet stencil was then used with textured paste and once dry I painted it with blue emulsion (also from Lora's room) but  decided I didn't like the result! I used versamark ink through the stencil and added silver metal magic and heat embossed...do love the texture you get with metal magic! The frame was one I picked up cheaply as a sample in B&Q and it works perfectly with these canvas boards....must get some more of them soon.

I hope you can pop over to the challenge to see my teamies projects this month, you won't be disappointed.

STAMPlorations 3rd Birthday Blog Hop

Good morning all. A little early in the day for me so this is scheduled!

It's day 4 of the STAMPlorations birthday blog hop + linky party....we'd love you all to join us by either (or both) commenting on the team’s blogs or joining our linky party for a chance to win one of the prizes. Commenting closes on July 5th, 11:55 p.m. Pacific. Winners will be announced on July 7th.

Another masculine make...my card used the balloons and sentiments from Kathryn's Big Wishes and Birthday Boy from Party Time. Dies are from Spellbinders. This was made for my great nephew who had his first birthday last weekend.

To join the linky party create something inspired by the mood board (up to 3 per player; new projects only; any/all products welcome). Our mood board must be displayed in your blog post and you must link to any of the 7 blog hop posts to qualify for the prizes).  Linky will be open from June 29th to July 5th. 

PRIZES

All prizes will be randomly drawn using Random.org

Prizes for commenting on the STAMPlorations blog and STAMPlorations designers blogs:

• THREE (3) winners of $25 gift certificate
• SEVEN (7) winners (1 per day) of $10 gift certificate

Prizes for liking, commenting, sharing, and tagging a friend on the STAMPlorations Facebook page post:

• TWO (2) winners of $15 gift certificate -- 1 for the commenter and 1 for the friend she tags in the comment

Prizes for creating and linking up a party/celebration/birthday project:

• ONE (1) winner of Kathryn’s Big Wishes stamp set
• ONE (1) winner of CUTplorations word dies (winner chooses 3 from 10 available)