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

Winter's Here

Good Morning and happy Tuesday. I'm back with my second piece for the Country View Crafts 'Opposites' challenge, and I've chosen Fire and Ice.

As I was making this the new season of Game of Thrones hadn't started, so there will be no spoilers from me.

 I started with a piece of 12 x 12 paper with a brick wall effect to reming me of the ice wall - I don't know why really 'cos that came down at the end of last season.

 I covered it in white gesso to tone it down a bit, then got to work on my fire with a couple of stencils and some DecoArt Media Acrylics. 

 Then I added some snow with Snowtex, and some crackle with an Andy Skinner stamp. 

 Lots of lovely snow!

 For the ice I used the Tim Holtz Drips die and just about everything else I could lay my hands on. There's Frantage, snow balls, micro beads, you name it, it's probably on there.

 So now we have fire and ice, we just need...

 Dragons!

This firery one is a Sheena stamp, flying in to save the day.

The words are from a Tim Holtz strip die

 And the ice dragon is by Pink Ink. I've cut into the stencilled flames to give him somewhere to rest.

And there we are! By the time you are reading this it will all be over, and life can go back to normal in our house. I live with 2 fans who will be very sad to see the show end.

There's still time to join in with our challenge, so please show us your opposites for the chance to win a £20.00 voucher to spend in the store.
I'm joining in with the Use Stencils challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday, and also Stitches over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday

Have a happy week, and thanks very much for looking x

Right Said Fred

Good morning and happy Sunday. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, so Neil's decided to hire a Wacker plate to put in some astro turf on our decking. So come 9.30 the bird song will be replaced by a deafening, petrol spitting monster that looks like something out of the Transformers films. Oh happy days!

Anyway I've been playing with my Art By Marlene stamps again with her Mermaymarlene prompts which are Message In A Bottle, and Singing Seahorses, and this is what I've made.

There are loads of Marlene's stamps in here, and the song that's now in your head is my gift to you (bwahahahaha)

I'm linking this with Dot's group at Ink Art Designs as she sells these fab stamps https://www.facebook.com/groups/InkArtDesigns/

Have a very happy and peaceful day, and thanks very much for looking x

Somewhere, Beyond The Sea

Good afternoon and happy Wednesday. I'm loving joining in with the prompts over at Art By Marlene but I'm really struggling to make a piece a day (I'm very slow and I tend to digress lol) So to catch up a little I made a 3fer. 

This is incorporating day 4 Underwater Love, day 5 Secrets of the Sea, and day 6 Making a Splash.

This is my Making a Splash background, lots of texture pastes and stencilling.

And a pocket with a secret tag for the Secrets of the Sea.

Day 7 hasn't happened yet, and 8 isn't looking to good either lol. 
I'm linking this with Dot's group at Ink Art Designs as she sells these fab stamps https://www.facebook.com/groups/InkArtDesigns/

Have a very happy day, and thanks so much for looking x

Starfish In Her Eyes

Good morning, happy Monday, and here in the UK happy Bank Holiday. I am feeling rather cheated as now I've retired I don't have Bank Holidays, but never mind eh. I'm trying to join in with the prompts over on Marlene's group, and by day 3 I'm falling behing, but it's all for fun and I'm really enjoying them.

The Day 3 prompt is Starfish In Her Eyes, and I've made another huge tag to go in my tag book.

I'm linking this with Dot's group at Ink Art Designs as she sells these fab stamps https://www.facebook.com/groups/InkArtDesigns/

Have a brilliant week and thanks very much for looking x

Welcome To MerMay

Good morning and happy Friday, it's the weekend again, and this week has gone soooo fast. Stamp designer Marlene of 'Art By Marlene' fame is running a fun event over on her facebook group 'Mermaymarlene'

The prompt for day 1 is 'Mer May Me, so here I am. You can tell it's me 'cos I've got my coffee in one hand, and a spare pair of glasses in the other.

For day 2 it's Whale Hello There, and having a sister and brother-in-law in the police force this is where my mind went. I don't know if I will be joining in everyday, but these were fun to make.
I'm linking this with Dot's group at Ink Art Designs as she sells these fab stamps https://www.facebook.com/groups/InkArtDesigns/

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks very much for looking x

Just The Opposite

Good morning, happy Wednesday, and welcome to May. It's time for a new challenge over at Country View Crafts and this one should get you thinking, it's 'Opposites'

In case you can't tell I've gone for colour and black and white.

I started by choosing some AALL & Create stamps that I thought would look ok in colour and black and white.

I cut a couple of tags and stamped these two and left them in black and white.

And I coloured this one with Distress Inks.
I'm linking this with Dot's group at Ink Art Designs as she sells these fab stamps https://www.facebook.com/groups/InkArtDesigns/

Please pop on over to the blog to check out the fabulous inspiration from the design team, and then join in with our challenge.

Have a wonderful May, and thanks very much for looking x