Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness …

… is this month’s theme at Country View Challenges.  I don’t really own any overtly autumn themed stamps or dies, so I thought I would make a meadow scene using autumnal colours, and poppies which I always associate with autumn.

I cut a piece of stamping card slightly smaller than DL size and blended my background sky using Distress Oxide inks. I created my sun using a circle mask and some brown Distress Ink, then stamped my flowers and grasses using various colours of Versafine Clair.  I coloured my poppies with red Sakura sparkle pen, and highlighted the whole scene with yellow sparkle pen, then added some wisps of mist with white pastel pencil. I added a sticker sentiment to finish, edged the finished panel with black marker pen and matted onto my card blank.

This is another very sparkly card that doesn't really show up in the main photo - here is an angled pic.

Stamps: Lavinia Group Poppies, Wild Poppies, Dandelions, Field Grass, Birds;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks ( Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimon, Barn Door); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Pinecone, Golden Meadow); Versafine (Vintage Sepia); Sakura Stardust pens (red, gold); pastel pencil (white);

Other: Tim Holtz Idea-ology Small Talk sticker.

Challenges I would like to enter:

A Gem of a Challenge #20 2022 - Anything Goes

Classic Design Challenge #9 2022 - Anything Goes

Country View Challenges (September) - Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness

Creative Moments #238 - Autumn Colours - TOP 3

Daring Cardmakers - Changing Seasons

Dream Valley #278 - Autumn Colours

Fab ‘n’ Funky #557 - Autumn Colours

Make My Monday #184 - Autumn Flora and Fauna

 My Time to Craft #491 - 3 or More Autumn Colours

(I have chosen red, yellow, beige, orange, chocolate brown and black)

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

That’s all for today - take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

The Night Before Christmas

Hi everyone,

We're just now approaching the time of year when I wake up to the fact that I am woefully behind on the Christmas card making front, so I am resolved to get a wriggle on and need to start making several each week from now on. 

Today I would like to share my first card using a new set of Visible Image stamps. I have wanted an image of Santa and his sleigh driving across the night sky for a long time, and finally I have got one!

I stamped my rows of rooftops with various colours of Versafine Clair, then created my night sky with Distress Oxide inks and a circle mask. I stamped my sleigh and sentiment, highlighted it and my skyline windows with Sakura sparkle pen, then created some snowflakes with Posca pen spatters. I matted everything onto black and then silver card and attached to my card base - job done!! This was actually a pretty simple card, though the positioning of the skyline was quite tricky, even with my stamp positioning tool.

Here is an angled pic to show the sparkle of the moon reflection and the windows.

Stamps: Visible Image Christmas Eve; sentiment - Uniko Festive Sentiments;

Media: Distress Oxide inks (Chipped Sapphire, Wilted Violet); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Medieval Blue, Morning Mist); Sakura Stardust pen (gold, clear); Posca pen (white).

Challenges I would like to enter:

ABC Christmas - S is for Snow - TOP 3

Aud Sentiments #297 - Christmas plus a Sentiment

C.R.A.F.T. #651 - Christmas

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #613 - Anything Christmas Goes

Simon Says (Monday) - Sparkle & Shine (2nd entry)

Sweet Stampin' - Christmas in September - TOP 3

The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge #124 - Anything Goes

Winter Wonderland (September) - Christmas Animals

We Love Stamping (September) - Anything Goes with Stamping (3rd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #561/562 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Thanks very much for visiting,and have a great day.

Hugs,

Allsorts Challenge #695 and my holiday pics

Good morning everyone, and welcome back to a new weekly Allsorts Challenge, following our pause for the past 2 weeks as a mark of respect following the death of our late queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  While life in the UK still seems a bit strange and rather different, we must now adjust to our new normality and therefore we are back in the saddle with our normal challenge schedule.

This week Ellie has chosen the theme and it is

 Anything Goes with option of Spots and/or Stripes

If you want to go dotty or stripey you can use patterned papers, stencils, stamping, embossing or any other creative way to add spots or stripes ... I look forward to seeing your makes!

This week's fab prize has been kindly donated by Highlight Crafts

The winner will receive a Two Red Robins "Perfectly Potted" die set with co-ordinating Reflections printable download, along with tickets to Crafting Live in Peterborough which will take place 21-22 October.

Here's my card for this week.

Now I must confess that when our dear Queen passed away, I was on holiday in Crete so had already made a card and scheduled my post ahead of time. When the Design Team decided to pause our challenges, I published my original card separately  as I did not want to leave my blog "dormant" for 2 weeks ... so having returned home last weekend I have gotten a bit last minute making a new one in amongst all the washing, ironing, and taking most of Monday to watch the State Funeral... but here we are!!

I decided to go dotty (some might say I don't have too far to go!!), and I created a smoosh background with Distress Oxide ink, then stamped my focal flower and coloured it with a purple Posca sparkle pen - it is quite sparkly, but sadly the photo doesn't really show it.  I did some background dotty circle stamping with a mix of Versafine Clair and Brilliance pearlescent ink, and also stamped a tiny bit of stripey DNA across the flower stem, and my sentiment. I filled one or two gaps on the panel with some background dotty stencilling, then edged the finished panel with sponged DO and black marker pen and matted onto lilac dotty paper. I finished off with some light white Posca pen spattering.

Stamps: Visible Image Creative Chaos;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist); Brilliance Pearlescent ink (Pearlescent Lavender); Posca sparkle pen (purple); Posca pen (white);

Papers: LotV Nitwits - Bonnets & Bowties;

Tools: Tim Holtz stencil - Dot Fade.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Crafter's Cafe #289 - Monochrome - TOP 3

Craft Rocket #96 - Dots and/or Stripes (2nd entry)

Creative Inspirations (September) - Spots or Stripes (2nd entry)

DL.Art (September) - Anything Goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2238 - Anything Goes

Path of Positivity #104 - Anything Goes Positive

Simon Says (Monday) - Sparkle and Shine

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

We Love Stamping (September) - Anything Goes With Stamping (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #561/562 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Hope you can join us this week, and I look forward to seeing your entries. Don't forget to visit the challenge blog to see more fab inspiration from the rest of the team. 

I mentioned above that I had been on holiday to Crete - our first trip since Covid - woo hoo!! I have been very Covid-nervous so this was a really big step for me, but I'm really glad we went.... hotel was really nice, weather was great, gorgeous scenery and fabulous food - what more could we want?? We stayed in beautiful Elounda, 5km along the coast from Aghios nikolaos and with the sight of the beautiful island of Spinalonga in the bay ... here are a few pics.

1. Views from our hotel room

2. Elounda  by day and night

3. Spinalonga

4. Aghios Nikolaos

5. Other days out

6. Fabulous food!

7. Our wedding anniversary meal ❤️❤️

Just a shame we had to come home really ... hey ho back to reality!!

Thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Allsorts Challenge

As the UK is currently still in a period of national mourning following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and ahead of her State funeral next Monday, we have decided as a mark of respect to once again cancel this week’s Allsorts challenge. We will return to our usual challenge schedule next Saturday 24th September, and look forward to welcoming you back then.

Happy anniversary

... to my wonderful husband ❤️  One of the things I love best about having returned to crafting the past 18 months is that I am now back to making "special" cards for him for birthday, Christmas and anniversaries ... I'm not especially imaginative when it comes to thinking of original ideas for men's cards, but I love sitting down to make the effort.  

Here is an 8 x 8 inch Lavinia card I made for him, featuring the cute hedgies "Wallace Family".

I used various circle, hill and cloud masks to create a blended scenescape with  Distress oxide inks, then stamped my hedgies, trees, flowers and foliage using various shades of Versafine Clair and highlighted the sun and hedgies with Sakura Stardust pens. I background stamped my heart script, though I had to cut out my original circle panel and mount onto a separate background square, as the first attempt at masking my original blended circle did not stamp properly!! I stamped foliage using my large circle mask then attached my image panel, and stamped my sentiments before matting everything simply on dark green card stock.

I must admit that although acetate masks are ideal for ink blending, I do struggle when stamping using them, as the thickness of the mask means that the image doesn't stamp right to the edge of the masked area ... I have ended up hand cutting paper circle masks for stamping but it isn't ideal - I would welcome any feedback on how any one approaches this.

I also decorated the envelope to match ... only noticed after I had taken the pic that I had not "grounded" the hedgies, so I sorted that out afterwards!

Stamps: Lavinia - Wallace Family, Forest Scene, Trees, Skeleton Tree Scene, Bluebells, Birds, Single Heart Mini, Mini Leaf 1, Background Script; Anniversary sentiment - Woodware; Husband sentiment - Fizzy Moon;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Iced Spruce, Tumbled Glass, Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilized Amber); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Pinecone, Rainforest, Green Oasis, Warm Breeze, Golden Meadow, Tulip Red); Versafine (Sepia, Majestic Blue); Sakura Stardust pens (yellow, clear);

Tools: Press to Impress large circle mask; Lavinia circle and hill masks; home made cloud mask.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Crafts Galore Encore #103 - Anything Goes 

Crafty Animals #65 - Anything Goes With an Animal

Crafty Calendar (September) - Anything Goes

Dare 2B Artzy (September) - Animals 

Love To Craft #70 - Anything Goes 

Love To Scrap #157 - Anything Goes 

Moving Along With the Times #146 - Trees and/or Leaves

Sheepski #66 - Feature a Creature

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Little Critters

We Love Stamping (September) - Anything Goes With Stamping

Word Art Wednesday #561/562 - Anything Goes

We'll be having a day of relaxation today with a meal out tonight. so I'm hoping it will be a lovely day!

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Simple make today

Hi everyone,

As some of you will know, this week’s Allsorts challenge was cancelled as a mark of respect following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and I haven’t posted for a while due to being so busy with my house refurbishments. So I thought I would just share a simple card I made earlier with you today… like many people, I’m not really in the mood for crafting at the moment.

I wanted to try the technique of blending Distress Oxide inks against the edge of a piece of paper to firm stripes - a technique I have seen in various places and I also received a beautiful card from Kathy K that used it and which very much inspired this card 😀

I blended Distress Oxide inks against the edge of paper to form both horizontal and vertical stripes in 4 colours, then very lightly sponged grey DO through my dotty stencil before stamping my flowers and sentiment using Versafine Clair. 

Stamps: Unity Stamps - Insightful Meadows;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Twisted Citron, Fossilized Amber, Kitsch Flamingo, Ripe Persimmon, Hickory Smoke); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist, Charming Pink);

Tools: Tim Holtz stencil - Dot Fade.

Challenges I would like to enter:

A Gem of a Challenge #19 2022 - Anything Goes

Ally’s Angels #62 - Anything Goes

Craft Rocket #96 - Spots and/or Stripes

Crafty Catz #605 - Anything Goes with option Use a Stencil - TOP 3

Creative Inspirations (September) - Spots and/or Stripes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2236 - Anything Goes - HONORARY MENTION

Simon Says (Monday) - Stamp It

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Stamp It

Word Art Wednesday #559/560 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Just a low key card, as like many people I’m sure, I’m feeling a bit discombobulated by the sad events of this week. Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Allsorts Challenge

As a mark of respect following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II yesterday, there will be no Allsorts challenge tomorrow. 

 The current challenge has now ended, and the winners will be announced ahead of the next challenge on September 17th.

I personally loved, admired and respected Her Majesty, as the only monarch I have ever known and who was a shining example of dedicated and continuing public service for 70 years. She will be incredibly missed by many people, and I send my deepest condolences to her family at this sad time.

Allsorts Challenge #692

Good morning everyone,

It's Saturday so it's time for another  Allsorts Challenge. Summer holidays are over so we are now back to weekly challenges - Dena has chosen this week's theme and it is

*** Anything Goes with option of School Days ***

This week's fab prize is a Sizzix die.

Here's my card for this week, following the Anything Goes option..

This is my first Christmas card using my new Visible Image Chrimbo stamps - it is more traditional than I have been used to making, but I rather like this style for a change. 

First I made a smoosh background with Distress Oxide inks, then stamped my background wording with Versamark and heat embossed with white tinsel EP. I stamped my robin and branch using Pinecone Versafine Clair, then stamped again onto separate card, coloured with Distress Inks and Distress Oxides, fussy cut and attached on top of the background stamping... I also stamped, coloured and fussy cut my holly. I stamped my sentiments direct onto my image panel using Versafine Clair, then matted the finished piece onto dark blue linen cardstock and onto my base card. I finished off with some white Posca pen spatter dots to imitate snow falling.

Stamps: Visible Image - Christmas Robin, Distressed Christmas;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Salty Ocean, Tumbled Glass, Barn Door, Frayed Burlap, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness); Distress Ink (Walnut Stain); Versafine Clair (Pinecone, Tulip Red, Nocturne); Versafine (Majesztic Blue); Versamark; white tinsel embossing powder; white Posca pen.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Addicted to Stamps and More #437 - Christmas

As You Like It - Favourite Card Base Shape and Why

(Mine is square .. it is just a good shape to fit an image and sentiment, and is what I make most of the time)

Colour Crazy Craft Challenge #35 2022 - Anything Goes With Colouring

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2235 - Birds - HONORARY MENTION

Simon Says (Monday) - Make Your Own Background

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #122 - Anything Christmas Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Time Out #221 - Festive

Word Art Wednesday #559/560 - Anything Goes

Hope you can join us this week, and I look forward to seeing your entries. Don't forget to visit the challenge blog to see more fab inspiration from the rest of the team. Thanks for visiting.

Hugs,