Mid-Month Inspiration at Stamping Sensations - July 18

Hello to you all and I hope that life is treating you kindly.

I'm here today to offer some mid-month inspiration over at Stamping Sensations and here's that card that I've made :

Featuring: CI-472

I started by creating a background with Brushos and Distress Inks onto peach card and then stamping the image using Versafine Black Onyx.  I then stamped the image again with StazOn ink onto acetate and reversed the image to give a mirrored effect.  I then used a finger dauber with orange ink around the edge to create a soft border.

Don't forget that we are very generously sponsored this month by Jean and Malcolm over at Crafty Individuals who are offering a £25 voucher to spend at their online store.

Jean Hardy from Crafty Individuals will be back on Hochanda with some fabulous stamps and other crafty products on the 3rd and the 4th of August, so I do hope that you'll be able to catch the shows.  I've had a great time making lots of samples for the shows which I'll be able to share with you as soon as the shows have aired.

We would really love it if you could join us with a piece of your artwork featuring this month's them  but please remember that Stamping Sensations is a 'STAMPING' challenge, so we must see a stamped image, sentiment or quote as the focal element of your artwork, this means: Stamping must be the central point of attention and interest.

All the details of our challenge rules can be found here

Please note:  If we don't comment on your entry it will be because it doesn't follow our theme to qualify under our rules, or because we are asked to sign in or provide additional data to comment on third part hosts such as Instagram, Flickr or Facebook etc.  We really don't want to be rude but we do want to be fair to those who follow the rules.

  I hope to be back with you all soon but until then, take care and be happy x

Next To You

Hello there,

I hope that you're all keeping well and happy.

I'd like share a couple of cards with you that Jean Hardy posted on the Crafty Individuals blog yesterday.  

The first card was made using one of my all time favourite CI stamps of the little girl and boy holding hands.  I took a photograph of two of my grandchildren last year and as the photo reminded me so much of this stamp, I knew that I had to use it for my Daughter's birthday.  She absolutely loved it and it's now been framed.

The background was made using Brushos and distress inks and the image was coloured using Derwent Inktense pencils.

The second card is similar to a larger one that I made earlier in the year for my crafty friend Leanne's birthday.  I really love the CI baroque stamp, so I've made quite a few in different colours to help build up my birthday card stash.  The sentiment stamp was a freebie with a magazine and the butterfly die is by Memory Box.

 I'll be back with you on the 18th with some mid-month inspiration over at Stamping Sensations but until then, I hope the sun shines for you and that you can do a little of whatever makes you happy :) x

I'd like to add my first card into the following challenge:

Try It On Tuesday - Add A Quote

Poppies In Summer

Hello there on this lovely sunny Sunday morning.

I can't believe how hot it's been and for how long here in the UK, we're just not used to it are we.  I remember the summer of 76 with it's plague of Ladybirds, so I'm just wondering if we will get something similar with this heat wave, hopefully not.

Now I'm not really a football fan, sorry Brenda and Viv if you're reading this but I did watch the England match last night and they were fabulous, once the game actually got started.  I'm feeling more nervous about the next game though as Croatia seem to have quite a lively team but I will be watching from the edge of my seat, as I'm sure most of the country will be too!

Onto the matter in hand now and I'd like to share a card with you that I made as a sample for one of the recent Inkylicious shows on Hochanda:

All the stamps that I've used are by Inkylicious and the sentiment is one of my favourites as it's so true.  I think it's a reminder to us all that we should all stop for a while and treasure the little moments in our lives as they tend to be the ones that we look back on with the greatest affection.

I stamped the image using Desert Sand and then coloured it using Distress inks to give the image more of a water colour look.  The two butterflies were printed and then fussy cut out to complete the scene.  I coloured and blended the background using Spectrum Aqua pens and a touch of glycerin.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Allsorts - In My Garden
Penny Black and More - Things With Wings
That's Crafty - Close To Nature
Country View Challenges - In The Summer Garden

We're 'In My Garden' at Stamping Sensations

Hello there my crafty friends,

It's time for a new challenge over at 'Stamping Sensations' and the theme this time is 'In My Garden,' so we're hoping to see lots of beautiful floral creations.

Here's the card that I've made using some beautiful stamps by Crafty Individuals. 

                                                    Featuring: CI-415, CI-491 CI-493

I've used CI-491 stamp to create my background paper by stamping with a blue ink onto pink paper.  The main focal image was stamped with Versafine Black Onyx and then heat embossed to avoid any smudging.  I then coloured the image with Distress Inks and Inktense pencils.  I finished by adding a few hanging flowers to complete the scene.

We are very generously sponsored this month by Jean and Malcolm over at Crafty Individuals who are offering a £25 voucher to spend at their online store.

We would really love it if you could join us with a piece of your artwork featuring this month's theme but please remember that Stamping Sensations is a 'STAMPING' challenge, so we must see a stamped image, sentiment or quote as the focal element of your artwork, this means: Stamping must be the central point of attention and interest.

All the details of our challenge rules can be found here

Please note:  If we don't comment on your entry it will be because it doesn't follow our theme to qualify under our rules, or because we are asked to sign in or provide additional data to comment on third part hosts such as Instagram, Flickr or Facebook etc.  We really don't want to be rude but we do want to be fair to those who follow the rules.

That's all from me for now, so I'll wish you a happy and peaceful day x

Rudolph Day - June 18

Hello there,

I hope to find you all well and happy, and enjoying the heatwave if you're here in the UK. 

Before I start, I have a few new followers and I'd like to say 'Hello and Welcome' to you all.  I really do appreciate your support and I hope you'll visit often.

I'm here today to share with you a card that I've made for this month's 'Rudolph Day' challenge over at Scrappy Mo's.  Now any regular followers of mine will now be beginning to notice just how much I love this stamp by Penny Black.  I think this will be the third time that I've used it in this challenge.  In my defense,  I have changed the colours and added little bits here and there.  In today's offering, I've added a die cut Deer and some stamped Rabbits.

I'll be back with you on Sunday morning with a card for our new challenge over at Stamping Sensations, so I hope that you'll join me.  Until then, be happy x 

I'd also like to add my card into the following challenges:

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

Visible Image Mid Month Inspiration

Hello there,

It's time for a little mid month Inspiration over at Stamping Sensations and I'd like to share another card that I've made using the 'Face It' stamp set from Visible Image.  This time the eyes are closed which I thinks creates a very moody and thoughtful looking card.  I also think that it looks quite dramatic in blacks and greys.

The background was made using Brushos and the tree stamp is by Andy Skinner.

We'd love you to join us in this month's challenge and there's still plenty of time left for you to share one of your makes with us.

Don't forget that we are sponsored by Mark and Helen at Visible Image, and the lucky winner will receive a £25 gift voucher to spend at their online store

Stamping Sensations is a stamping challenge, so we must see a stamped image, sentiment or quote as the focal element of your artwork, this means: Stamping must be the central point of attention and interest.

All the details of our challenge rules can be found here

Please note:  If we don't comment on your entry it will be because it doesn't follow our theme to qualify under our rules, or because we are asked to sign in or provide additional data to comment on third part hosts such as Instagram, Flickr or Facebook etc.  We really don't want to be rude but we do want to be fair to those who follow the rules.

That's all from me for now, so I'll wish you a happy and peaceful day x

A Dedication To My Wonderful Dad

Hello there,

As it's 'Father's Day' today here in the UK, I really felt that I wanted to make a card that I could dedicate to the memory of my wonderful Dad who sadly passed away many years ago.

My Dad used to have a fabulous garden and he used to grow all of our flowers and vegetables.  I remember them being in long, neat rows, and he used to plant a few plants or seeds each week, so that we had a constant supply of food throughout the summer and autumn months.  I guess as a child that I took this for granted, especially when many of my friends were eating the then new and very fashionable ready meals that had just started to appear on the market.....what a fool I was, and what I wouldn't give to have my Dad here again today to thank him for all he did for us.

I feel absolutely blessed to have had such an amazing Dad and for all the happy memories that I have of our time together.  What's that saying...... Don't cry because they've gone, smile because they were here. :) xxx

Here's the card that I've made, and that I dedicate to him:

On this card, I've used some gardening stamps by 'The Stamp Man' that I've had for years and never  

used until now.  Unfortunately, these stamps are no longer available. The trees are by Inkylicious and I’ve used some Floersoft on the bare tree.  

I hope that your day will be a special one where beautiful memories can be made x  

I'll be back with you tomorrow with some mid-month inspiration over at Stamping Sensations.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Penny Black and More - In The Garden
Try It On Tuesday - For The Boys