Last of My Owl Samples

Hello there,

Just a quick post from me today to share with you the last of the Owl samples that I made for Crafty Individuals.  These stamps are absolutely fabulous and perfect for both masculine and feminine cards.

Featuring  CI-511, CI-430, Trees from the A4 stamp sheet of trees

Featuring CI-513, CI-477, CI-493

I do hope that you've enjoyed seeing this last lot of Owl samples as I really enjoyed making them.

That's all from me for today, so I hope that you all have a fabulous weekend x 

Dance In The Moonlight

Hello there,

First of all, I would like to thank the people who left comments answering my question about why  blogland has become so quiet recently.  It made me realise that although many people no longer blog, that there is a solid core of like minded people who will continue to do so, myself included.  I know that I really appreciate your visits and the lovely comments that you leave as I know that time is a precious commodity. It was really interesting to me to read your comments, so thank you x

I'd like to share a card with you today that I had completely forgotten about.  It's the one that I had published in the April edition of Craft Stamper magazine.  I think the reason I always forget these cards is because Craft Stamper don't like you to publish the full photo until their next edition has been published, by which time I've usually forgotten all about it!

The gorgeous lady stamp is by Flonz Craft and all other stamps are by Inkylicious. I used a white Posca marker to splatter the stars in the background.

Wishing you all a happy day x

Let's Have Some Colour Today

Hello there,

Well  what a great start to the long Bank holiday.  The weather has been glorious and if we believe what the forecasters say,  then it's going to be ever warmer over the next few days.  I hope you all enjoy the break, whatever you may be doing.

Now I don't know if it's just me but blog land just seems to be getting quieter and quieter all the time and lots of familiar faces seem to be disappearing.  I know that 'Google Plus'  being removed may have something to do with it, or it could be the whole GDPR fiasco.  Maybe people are feeling that it's not worth the trouble.  I think that social media may also be playing a big part.  I've very recently joined Instagram  @Sandmacards and it's so easy to upload a photo, add a few #tags, and that's it really.  When visiting other pages, it's easy to click the 'Like' button and most comments are fairly short and to the point.  I know it's not the same as visiting a blog where you can explain how the card was made, also it always feels to me like I'm visiting a group of like minded friends where we share each other's joys and sorrows.  Maybe it's just me but I'd be interested to see how you all feel about it as it.

Onto the matter in hand now and the card that I'd like to share with you:

All the stamps that I've use on this card were freebies from issue 67 of 'Creative Stamping' magazine.  It's a fabulous set that I know that I'll use time and time again.  I have to say that their latest issue looks a good set  too, and again the main focal stamp are by Crafty Individuals.  The ink that I've used are Distress and Adirondacks, and as always now, stamped in VersaFine Clair.

I think that's all from me today and I wish you all a happy day x

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

Craft Stamper - Take It Make It (April)

Mid Month Inspiration - April 19

Hello there my crafty Friends,

It's time for us once again for us to give you some mid month inspiration for our stamping challenge over at 'Stamping Sensations'  and here's the card that I've made:

I don't have any showers on this one but I have brought you some May flowers.  The main focal image is made up of two separate stamps.  The bird is by Inkylicious and the flowers are by Stacey Barras who designs for Crafters Companion.  Stacey does have a stamp that looks very much like these combined images but I thought rather than buy another stamp, that I would use the two stamps that I already had.  I started by stamping and the masking off the bird before over stamping with the flowers.  Next, I coloured the image with Derwent Inktense pencils and Distress inks.  I randomly stamped around the edge of my card with another of Stacey's stamps and then I used a blending tool with Adirondack Cranberry ink to create a darker edge.  Quite a lot of work involved with this card but I think it was worth it in the end and the person that I sent it too loved it, so that always makes me happy.

Don't forget that...……..

We are very generously sponsored this month by Gordon and Justin from 

'Be Creative'

 who are kindly offering the lucky winner 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

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

Kingfisher

Hello there my Crafty friends.

I hope that life is treating you kind.  If not, then I wish you happier days to come.

I'm here today to share two more of the samples that I made for Crafty Individuals using their gorgeous new Kingfisher stamps and papers:

As you can see, I've created a tranquil, water scene for the Kingfisher, and doesn't he look right at home there.  I used my Ink Dusters to make the background and then I stamped and fussy cut the Kingfisher before using lots of other Crafty Individual stamps to build up the scene.  I've coloured my bird with Distress inks and Koh-I-Noor and used the same inks in the background so that it all co-ordinates well together.

Here's my second offering for today:

This time using one of Jean's new papers which are just yummy!  They are so beautiful that I really didn't want to start cutting them up.  This one uses quite a large image of Kingfisher stamp and so I used other CI stamps and some Tim Holtz florals to complete my card.  I used a little dyed cheesecloth under my ducks to make it look like they were nesting.  All of the new stamps and papers are now available on the 'Crafty Individuals' web site and are on offer for a short while.

That's all from me for today and I wish you all a happy week ahead x 

CAS Water colour Poppies

Hello there,

I'm here today to share something with you that's just a little different for me.  For those of you who know me well, you will also know that my cards are anything but CAS.  I enjoy using lots of ink and sometimes, I just don't know when to stop!  Anyway, at the weekend, I was visiting the blog of my good friend Viv, when I saw that she had entered a CAS water colour challenge.  Their theme this month is called 'Poppy' and as I love Poppies, I thought that I would enter with this card that I've made:

I used the 'Water Colour Poppies' set by Inkylicious and I started by stamping and then heat embossing the Poppies with VersaFine Claire Nocturn.  Next I inked up the solid Poppy stamp with a yellow Distress Oxide, then with Adirondack Watermelon before spritzing it with water and then stamping it over my outline Poppy stamp.  Once I was happy with the colour, I then spritzed the whole image with a fine water mist to cause the inks to bleed out.  I should probably have left it there but I added some red splatters over the image.  To finish, I added my sentiment.  It's all very different for me but I'm happy with how it turned out and it's another one for my stash.

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

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

Craft Stamper - Take It Make It April (Anything Goes)

Humming Birds Amongst Blossoms

Hello there my Crafty friends,

Here today to share a quick post with another sample:

Featuring: CI-509 and CI-506

I stared by using a Gelli Plate to create my background and then using the Humming Birds stamp over it.  The border was made using the edge of another stamp which I think worked quite well with it.  The flowers below the birds were decoupaged to give some dimension.  When it was finished, this card had a lovely French feel to it and is quite different from my usual style.

Enjoy the rest of your day and I'll be back with you soon x 

Owls and Daffodills

Hello there again,

Look at me….two posts in one day!

Just a quick one this time to share another sample:

Featuring: Owl and Moon (CI-512), Owl Family CI-513,

CI-488, CI-361 and CI-464

I decided to use two of the new stamps together this time and so I made into an 8x8 card.  I created a background using Brushos and then I stamped the family of Owls before adding the larger Owl.  I used a tree stamp to created the branches around the Owls and then stamped the sentiment.  Finally, I stamped and coloured the daffodils before fussy cutting them out and then adding them to the bottom of my card.  I used a silicone glue to give the daffodils some dimension.  The Ivy was made using a Memory Box die.

Although I've used autumnal colours throughout, I think that it works well for Spring too with the daffodils and butterflies.

That's all from me for today but I'll be back on Wednesday with another card.  Until then, take care and be happy x 

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Hello there,

It's time for a new challenge over at 'Stamping Sensations' and our theme this time is 'April Showers Bring May Flowers.'  Here's the card that I've made:

I started by using a die to cut the required shape into some printed paper by Crafty Individuals.  I used a blending tool with some Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink to shade around the edges and to the outside of where I'd cut the shape out. Next, I picked out random flowers and coloured them using Derwent Inktense pencils.  I glued the flowered background to a square white card and then stamped the main focal image with an Inkylicious stamp.  Once the stamp was dry, I used some paper to mask off and the used the Distress ink again where the rain was as I felt that the white needed breaking up a little.  I finished by adding a sentiment and then joining it to the girl's hand to look like she was holding on to it. 

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

Get Well Soon

Hello there on this Saturday afternoon.

I hope that your weekend is going well and that you might have something nice, or some crafting time to look forward to.

Now over the last few week, I've really enjoyed entering the challenges over at Allsorts.  When I saw the theme for this week which is 'Sentiment In Focus,' I checked my card stash to see what was lacking and I noticed that I didn't have any 'Get Well' cards, so this seemed like a perfect opportunity to remedy that:

The background was made by smooshing Distress and Adirondack Inks onto my craft mat and then spritzing with water before pressing my card into it.  The main focal stamp that I've used is by Woodware Stamps and I used two Inkylicious stamps around the edge. I also used a blending tool around the edge to give a darker finish.

That's all from me for today but I'll be back again tomorrow when we will be starting a new challenge at Stamping Sensations.  So until then, I wish you all a wonderful day x

Owl and Berries

Good morning to you all.

Well the sun is shining at the moment but I'm not sure how it will last as there are a few storm clouds gathering.  I guess we just have to enjoy it while it lasts!

I'm here with a quick post today to share with you another of my latest samples for Crafty Individuals:

Featuring CI-511 (Owl and Berries) and CI-430

These stamps really are beautiful and I thought that I'd give this one an alternative colour and I was pleased with the outcome.  The Baroque Splatter background stamp is a favourite of mine and I think it works really well here on the frame.  I created the background and border with Distress Oxides and the coloured the owl with Distress Inks.

Take care and I'll be back with you on Sunday xx