Winter Wonderland

 Hello there,

Exactly one month today and we’ll all be celebrating the big day, albeit very differently for many of us.  I guess that we all have to make the most of it in whatever way we can.  I’ve made cakes this week for ourselves and for the family and that always feels like the start of Christmas for me.  

Moving on to all things crafty, I’m here today to share a card that I’ve made with some new stamps that I recently won at the ‘Country View Challenge.’  It’s quite an old stamp set by Andy Skinner and I’ve like it for ages, so I was thrilled when I saw it in stock.   Here’s the card that I’ve made:

I started by stamping the trees, shed and gate, then heat embossed them to stop any smudges happening.  Next, I used a stencil to add the snow and I used a light touch of grey ink to add some texture and hills.  I then masked off the snow and shed before sponging in the sky with Distress inks.  After stamping in the birds, I used a post stamp by Inkylicious to create the fence and I drew the links in using a black fine liner.  This is my first play with my new stamps and I’m looking forward to using them again shorty as I love them, especially the tree.  

Here’s a photo of the stamps that I chose as my prize from Country View Crafts:

That’s all from me for today and I’ll be back with you all again soon xx

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Try It On Tuesday - Winter Wonderland

Christmas Card Throwdown (November) - Winter Wonderland

Off The Edge (Not Me Though!)

Hello there, 

How are you all doing? Good I hope.

I promised myself that I would enter the CAS challenge this month over at 'CAS MixUp Card Challenge.'  I just made it by the skin of my teeth last month, so I've managed to get there a little earlier this time!  Here's the card that I've made:

Those who know me well will know that I struggle with CAS cards, so I actually enjoy challenging myself to make something a little different to my usual type of card.  As Christmas is almost upon us, I decided that I would make an extra card for the occasion, as I usually find that I don't have enough when it comes to the time when I need them.  The poinsettia stamp that I've used is by Crafty Individuals and I've water coloured it using Adirondack and Impress inks. The sentiment was a freebie from a craft show that I went to a couple of years back.  I've use a Tim Holtz die in the opposite corner to balance everything up.  

Right then, that's all from me for today and I hope to be back again with you all very soon.  Wishing you all a very happy and colourful weekend xx

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

Moving Along With The Times - Christmas Flowers

Time Well Spent

 Hello there,

I hope that you all had a good weekend. Well, it's the second week of the second lockdown and I've decided that I will try to make positive use of this time.  My Hubby and I have been out walking every morning, around three miles a day, so that's got us off to a good start.  Taking of time well spent, I'm here today to share a card for this month's challenge over at 'The Artistic Stamper.' and their theme this time is 'Time.'

This was made by using one of the older Visible Image stamp sets.  I use varoious Distress inks in the background of the clock.  I then stamped the clock and set about cutting all of the pieces out before sticking them with my hot glue.  This then gave me the chance to add each piece at a different angle to give the card dimension, although it doesn't show very well in this photo. Next, I used the different background stamps to fill the background and sponged around the edge with a little purple. All the stamps that I've used on here are by Visible Image.  The colours that I've used today are quite feminine but this is also a great stamp for masculine cards too.  

That's all from me for today, so I'll wish you all a happy week, whatever you may be doing xx

Kingfisher Bookmark

 Hello there,

Sorry that I've been quiet over the last week but I've been busy making my next lot of samples for Crafty Individuals.  

I'm here today to share a bookmark with you that I've made for this month's challenge over at  'Country View Crafts.'  Their challenge this month is 'Anything But A Card.'  I had a wondeful surprise over the weekend when I saw a post from them saying that I'd won their October challenge, so I've just ordered three new stamps from them and I'll share what I make with them over the coming weeks.  Here's my bookmark:

I made the background using Brushos and the stamps that I've used are all by Crafty Individuals.

Thats all from me for today as I've got lots to do and I need to start thinking about getting my Christmas cards ready to write as I like them all to be done for the beginning of December.  This Christmas will be a strange one for all of us with all that's going on around us.  I'm sure that it will be very different to last year.  Thank goodness that we didn't know at that point what 2020 had in store for us.  I, for one, will be glad to put this year behind us and look to a brighter 2021.......fingers crossed!

Take care of yourselves and enjoy doing whatever makes you happy xx

The Raven

 Hello again,

I can't believe how many times I've posted this week, it must be a record, either that, or I've got way too much time on my hands!

It's that time of year again for all things spooky.  I don't do Halloween but I do enjoy creating gothic type art.  The piece that I'm sharing with you today is one that I've made for my art journal.  I followed a FB live demo by the very talented Dot Leathbridge about creating galaxy backgrounds and I've used one of them on here.  All the stamps that I've used are by Crafty Individuals:

It's a beautiful stamp and I've just added a little colour to some of the feathers.

If you celebrate Halloween, then I hope you enjoy it and if you're like me, I hope it will pass swiftly, then it will be onto all things Christmas, although goodness knows what that will be like this year with all that's going on around us.

Take care and have a good weekend xx

I'd like to add this card to the follwing challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Movie Inspired (The Raven)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything goes

Dawn Whispers

 Hello,

I'm here today to sahre with you a card that I've made using the last of my four designs for Crafty Individuals:

These stamps are so easy to use, even if I do say so myself :) Simply stamp the image, then heat emboss to avoid making any smudges, then create your background.  This was blended with Ink Dusters and the water was water coloured, all with Distress inks.  The paper in the background is by Crafty Individuals from the 'Weathered Wood 2' pack and I've added a little colour with this Ink Dusters to blend with the scene.  Jean Hardy from CI has been doing a lot of demos and cards using these stamps and papers and she's used alcohol inks which give a wonderful, artistic look.  

Right then, as it's raining again, it looks like another crafty day for me.... The things that we do to keep ourselves amused!  Take care and I hope that your day is a colourful one xx

How To Catch A Star

 Hello there my lovelies and how are you all today?

I woke up to a beautiful sunrise, so that was a good start to my day.  I've done a little food prep for today, so time now to have a crafty play.

The card that I'd like to share with you today is one that I've made for the latest 'Library Challenge.' I'm always on the lookout for new challenges as they can often take me out of my comfort zone, which I like every now and again.  The Library challenge isn't new, just new to me but I find it an interesting one. Their challenge this week is a book called 'How To Catch a Star.' and here's my take on it:

I started by masking off my moon, then I blended Adirondack Denim, Distress  Oxide Wilted Violet and Memento Tuxedo to create my background. The silhouette stamp is by Inkylicious and I masked off the umberella.  This stamp worked really well as it does look like she's reaching up for the star.  I splattered the background with water, then once this was dry, I used my white Posca pen to add more stars.  I used a mountain stencil to ground the girl and to also add a little extra interest.  Finally, I finished by using an old Stampman sentiment, which I heat embossed in white and I added a silver die cut star.

That's all from me for today and I hope that it's a happy and creative one for you xx