Take It Easy

Good morning and happy Thursday. We've recently had a few days away visiting my sister for our annual Christmas trip into London - we were late with last years, not mega early with this one, but Christmas is coming lol. It also coincinded with her last day at work. She's still my little (ok much taller than me) sister, but she's also done her 30 years and so she's retired, at least for the Summer.

I love this Carabelle stamp set, but as she's not going on holiday I changed the sentiment a little. Day 1 of her retirement and we helped to chop down a tree. They have a huge garden and it will now be given lots of TLC.

I'm entering this into the following challenges

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Use Stencils (my background is made with Clarity Stencils)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Bright Colours - have you seen his shirt! 

Stamping Sensations - In an English Country Garden - every English garden needs a tortoise! and
Ink Art Designs mine's a Carabelle stamp.

The sun is shining here today, and it really feels like Summer is on the way, so have a lovely day, and thanks very much for looking x

Fly The Flag

Good morning and happy monday, the start of a new week already, I must be really old the speed this year is going.

The current challenge over at PaperArtsy is Banners and Bunting, which sounds like fun, so this is what I've made.

I've used lots of Fresco paints for the bunting and some Tracy Scott stamps, and on the card itself, alcohol inks and JOFY stamps. I really enjoyed making this, they're my happy colours.

I'm also joining in with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge which is Happy Birthday, and the Craft Stamper TIMI April challenge.

All of the PaperArtsy goodies can be found at their store, or at Country View Crafts

Thanks very much for looking, and have a fun week xx

Merry And Bright

Good morning and happy Rudolph Day. It's only 7 months to Christmas lol, so in preparation for the big day, here's a card that I've made.

I started by making a backing sheet with lots of paints, stencils, and some stamps.  I liked it but it was far too busy for a background.

So I die cut it with my trusty Tim Holtz Christmas dies.

I made a new background with Tim's stamps and Distress Oxides.

The die cut is from a Tim Holtz set.

I'm entering this into the Simon Say Stamp Wednesday  challenge Furry Friends, and also the Happy Little Stampers Christmas challenge.

Thank very much for looking, and have a fun day xx

A Good Heart

Good afternoon and happy Saturday. Today we have a little bit of sunshine after two days of rain yay!

PaperArtsy currently have an 'assemblage' challenge, and this is what I've made.

I must admit that when I saw the theme I just thought 'oh well, I'll join in with the next challenge' But after googling with assemblage actually is, I decided to have a go.

This is how it looks in the sunlight. Most of the embellishments are made of air drying clay from moulds.

The colour is from Prima wax and Treasure Gold, and the sentiment is a Tim Holtz sticker.

I'm also entering this into the That's Crafty 'back to black' challenge, and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday  'a bit of sparkle'

Thanks very much for looking, and have a fun weekend xx

Birthday Crazies

Good morning and happy bank holiday, and... it's not raining! Here's a card I made over the weekend.

I've know for months that his birthday was coming up, but of course left it till the day before to start the card. It was all glued together on the day. It doesn't bode well for Christmas does it! Lots of cutting and sticking on Christmas Eve...

 I made the background with lots of TH stamps and Distress Inks. I must admit this is my favourite part :-)
This bit took me 15 minutes, the rest of it took about 4 hours!

Much stamping, cutting and colouring later and we have the crazies! As a non-cute type of gal I love these guys. You can have a 'man' card without a golfer or a pint of pint of beer on it!

I'm entering this into the SSS Wednesday challenge, where it's still Hip To Be Square.

Enjoy your bank holiday everyone, and thanks very much for looking xx

Hip 2 Be Square

Lost Coast Designs have a new fun challenge where it's all about the squares. Here's mine

This was a box full of little wooden shapes, so I started by giving it a bit of colour.

I used a border stamp around the outside.

Then did a bit of shabby stamping with the hat stamps on the top and around the insides.

Time to choose and stamp some of my favourites, then Off With Their Heads!

And there it is, a nice shabby box for smug kitty and co.
It doesn't show in the photograph, but it was pounding with rain when I took this. In fact it still is!

I'm also entering this into the SSS Wednesday challenge which is also Hip To Be Square, so how good is that! 

I hope you have a fun weekend, and thanks very much for looking x

The Best Is Yet To Come

Hi and happy Bank Holiday Weekend. It's been a day of sport here so no-one noticed that I was MIA. This is what I've been doing.

I've been practising the techniques I learned at a recent Karen Hayselden class. I had a lot of fun and still need a lot more practise but I think it's sport again tomorrow....
This is for the Tando Creative challenge, Things With Wings. I've also used one of their mini stencils in the corner. These are fab, lots to room around the edge to keep my dirty fingers on.
I'm also entering it into the SSS Wednesday challenge which is Anything Goes.
I hope you have a fab weekend, and thanks very much for looking x

We're Not In Kansas Anymore...

It's the amazing Nellie's turn to pick the challenge this week at Stampotique and she has asked us to choose our favourite background technique. I think mine is the 'everything but the kitchen sink' technique so this is what I've made.

I've even remembered to take step by step photo's but you can skip these if you like :-).

My chipboard album painted with DecoArt multi -surface satins and a wee bit of Media interference paint in gold and lilac. (All the paints used throughout are from my stash of DecoArt paints. I've recently joined their Blogger Outreach programme and can't wait for my parcel to arrive :-)  )

 Ready for some PanPastels now. I've used gold, silver, and bronze over the top of Versamark. The stamps are
Text Block 3 and
Cracks

Some stenciling now with my favourite sunburst stencil and more DecoArt paint.

More stenciling and finally some stamping. Can you tell how the weather has changed - the sun keeps coming and going. I've stamped and painted Janet's 2 Nuage's  and France's Majestic Tree.

I've also added some of France's Romantic Text with orange PanPastel.

I've painted more card and stamped Majestic Tree and die cut to make a lolipop tree.
Dorothy and Toto have been watercoloured.

I'm pretty sure these guys were not in the Wizard of Oz! Jo's Mushroom Group and Kira's 3 Dwarfy Gnomes have been painted. I've used Spectrum Noir Aqua Marker's on the gnomes - I do like theses but have to practice not just using them as felt tip pens! The sun is shining again now lol and it really picks out the interference paint.
I've spent all day doing this ('cos I'm so slow) and I had a fab time so thank you Nellie for such a great challenge.
I hope you join in with us and show us your favourite background technique 

IMPORTANT REMINDER:

Please read ALL RULES on the linkz page before linking your creation.

If you didn't follow the rules posted, you may have been deleted.  

Feel free to relink your creation with the correct information for a chance to win.

I'm also entering this into the Pan Pastels Alter It challenge, Mixed Media World's Anything Goes (I bet they're fed up of me over there lol) and Simon Say Stamp Wednesday which is also anything goes.
Hope you like it, and thanks very much for looking x

Hold On Tight

I've been having a play with Kate's new stamps and made a second journal page.

Lots of painting, stenciling and stamping here using Stampotique stamps and lots of gilding flakes for a bit of bling too.

 I've used Arwen's fabulous Angel Wings here on velum and covered them with gilding flakes. I've also gilded France's Splattered Mug.
In the background there's Romantic Text that I stamped upside down (duh), Spiraling Out Of Control, and Mesh.

Kate's beautiful Hold On Tight has been stamped and watercoloured with Peerless watercolours.

So now I have my 2 girls together in my journal.
I'm entering this into the The Mirror Crack'd challenge which is anything with wings, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, things that fly,and  Craft Stamper's March challenge which is anything goes.
I'm also sneaking it into the Art Journal Journey which is things with wings. Valerie if it's not 'journaly' enough please delete it :-)
Enjoy your Thursday, and thanks very much for looking x

Edit, I've just discovered a wonderful new site Mixed Media World which has some gorgeous art on display, and I'm joining in with their first challenge  which is Anything Goes.
Happy Friday xx