Hello There

Good morning and happy Sunday. It's time for a new challenge over at Rubber Dance, and this month it's to use an animal stamp. So here's everyone favourite giraffe.

This is the first time that I've attempted mail art, but it won't be the last as it was such fun. All of the paints that I've used are from the DecoArt Media Line.

I thought it would be easier to 'unstick' the envelope then I wouldn't need to wait for one side to dry. Any other time when I don't want an envelope to fall apart they do so without trying, but this time oh no! Four envelopes later I finally took one apart without tearing it. It's been very carefully (not!) painted with fluid acrylics and tinting base.

I've added some stamping now with Grungy Swirls and Round in Circles, and also lots of stencilling using the same colours as the background.

I've stamped Giraffe onto a dictionary page and coloured him in yellow fluid acrylic.

3rd Row Textured Houses have been stamped directly on the envelope and a bit of colour added. The 'surprise inside' stamp is from Happy Birthday.

And here's the back! - yes, it did stick back together lol. There's more Textured Houses, different circles from Pick A Number, and the SWAK is from Mail Art.

I've really enjoyed making this, and if I can get the envelopes to let go I shall be making more!

Please join in with our challenge, and add an animal (or 2 or 3)

When you visit the shop, don't forget to quote SDFreeShip for free worldwide P&P on orders of 15 Euros and above.

I'm entering my envelope into the Craft Stamper TIMI 'anything goes' challenge.

Have a fun week. and thanks very much for looking x

Just Dance, Dance, Dance

Good afternoon,  happy Friday, and happy birthday to me! I know I'm very old, but I do still love birthdays, and Christmas. Yes, there I've said it, I love Christmas! Anyway to celebrate my birthday and day 13 of the 31 Days of Halloween over at Lost Coast Designs I've hired Justin and his backing dancers.

I've painted and stencilled the Tando chippies, the stamped and white embossed the Domino Shrine.
Next I've stamped and cut out the guys from Dancing Skeletons, and used my gelli plate to reverse stamp.

Aren't they happy chaps! They always remind me of the dancers in Strictly - I think the one on the right has Anton's smile!

As always we would love it if you joined in with our challenges, we currently have the 31 Days of Halloween, and Animals OR both!

I'm joining in with the Get Your Spook On challenge at That's Crafty,  Not A Card at Simon Says Stamp Monday, and the Craft Stamper TIMI Anything Goes.

Have a lovely day, and thanks very much for looking xx

Wish You Were Here?

In a word yes! 8 years ago I was here and I'm really looking forward to going back one day.

I'm over at the Rubber Dance blog today, and if you pop across by clicking here, you'll see where I'm talking about.

As always please quote SDFreeShip on orders of 15 Euro's and above for free worldwide P&P.

Don't forget to join in our fun current colour challenge too.

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

You Looking At Me

Good afternoon and happy Sunday. It's day 8 of the 31Days of Halloween over at Lost Coast Designs, and I'm giving you the evil eye!

He's a bonny chap isn't he!

He's been made by die cutting a couple of tags and some stencilling.

And this is Evil Eye himself. He's been coloured with Aquatones to give him a good strong colour. The stringy bits are hot glue - I thought it looked like drool mmmmm.

So we have 2 challenges running, the 31 Days of Halloween, and Animals, so please get your spook on and join in!

I'm also entering this into the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge 'A walk on the dark side'

Have a fun (and spooky) week, and thanks very much for looking xx

Autumn Beauty

Good morning and happy Thursday. It's good to be back with my second Autumnal themed piece for Country View Crafts.

All of the paints and mediums are from DecoArt. 

I started by putting some DecoArt modelling paste through a stencil, then I gave it a couple of coats of gesso. When dry I painted with Autumn shades of Media Acrylic. 

Luckily this dries very quickly, so I was soon able to give it a second coat, more of the green/gold, and also the quinacridone

colours.

While this was drying I die cut some felt flowers with a Leonie Pujol media die.

I also added some Frantage, and some glue gun 'cobwebs'

The sentiment is a Tim Holtz Small Talk sticker.

I'm not ashamed to say that this is the 3rd time this Wendy Vecchi embellishment has made an appearance.

It was so hard not to stick the flower in the middle lol, but I do think that they look nice in a cluster in the corner.

Please join in with our challenge, it doesn't need to have an Autumn theme, just mixed media in Autumnal colours.

I'm also entering this into the 'That's Crafty' Forever Autumn challenge.

Have a fun day, and thanks very much for looking x

Mmmn Shiny

Good morning and happy Tuesday. It's a really quick post from me today as real life has caught up with me again - I hate it when it does that!

This month the very generous Bibi from Rubber Dance is sponsoring Mixed Media Monthly in a colour challenge. This is what I've made.

These have been designed by the very talented Melina for Rubber Dance and I love them!

And this is the gorgeous colour palate - very happy colours!

If you would like any of Melina's fab new stamps remember to quote SDFreeShip on orders of 15 Euro's and above for free worldwide P&P.

Just click on the link above and be transported!

Thanks very much for looking and have a fun week x

Meet Mr Tibbitts

Good afternoon and happy Monday. It's day 2 of our 31 Days of Halloween over at the Lost Coast Portal To Creativity, and also the launch of our new challenge, and this month it's Animals.
Mmm so how do I combine Halloween and cute furry animals - meet Mr Tibbitts.

I started by making a very simple background with glossy card and Stayzon inks.

Then stamped Cheshire Cat and embossed him in black.

The background has been stencilled, and I've added a die cut and a Tim Holtz sticker.

Don't forget to visit the Portal everyday for new inspiration, and also join in with our challenges.

I'm entering my furry friend into the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge A Walk on the Dark Side.

Have a fun day, and thanks very much for looking x

Too Much Happy

Good morning and happy Sunday. What can I say, it's October 1st already. When I was young this meant it was nearly my birthday and then Christmas. Now I'm older it means it's nearly my birthday, and then Christmas! Our new challenge theme at Country View Crafts is Mixed Media with Autumnal Hues. Here's mine  

I started with Distress Oxides in Autumnal shades, on a piece of mixed media card. I always think of orange and brown are the main Autumn colours, but when I looked in the garden there are lots of purples and yellows still.

Then I die cut some paper leaves and added some gilding flakes. On the cloth leaves, I added some Frantage.

Now every dog loves to play in giant leaves, and Crazy Dog is no exception! Thank heavens for the die's, soooo much nicer than having to cut these out.

I added a tag in the corner with a Carmen's Veranda sentiment.
There we are - all done! These dogs still make me smile just as much as they did the first time I used them.

I hope you join in with our challenge. Happy Autumn, and thanks very much for looking x

I'm entering this into the following challenges
Crafty Cardmakers - Autumn
That's Crafty - Forever Autumn
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge - Gold
Deep Ocean - Goodbye Summer 
Mixed Media World - Anything Mixed Media