The first batch!

Well, I have actually made a start on my Christmas Cards!  Thought I needed to after doing some blog visiting last week and realising that it's 1st November on Friday.

I have used the Stampendous 'Snowy Postcard' on kraft card and stamped again on white for the scene, which was given a good sprinkling of Flower Soft,  which I bought about 4 years ago and this is the first time it's been used.
The background paper was stamped with HeroArts Christmas script using Versamark and dusted over with Perfect Pearls bronze.  I have made about 12 of these, although a bit tedious, I find doing a 'production line' of stamping and cutting,  then as I watch T.V.  I do all the d/side tape bits ready for assembly, easier when time is short. To stop the boredom I use different papers and ribbons.

I am entering this at:
 

Talking of time being short.........that's it for now, hope to show the next 'batch' soon.

Avril xx

Just because

I missed the GNP show at Harrogate a couple of weeks ago due to a prior commitment -  The Wedding - so I had a  little online spend.  Clarity Stamps had free postage last month so one of my little treats was this - La Petite Musique and I finally got to ink her up this week. I used Promarkers to colour and Distress Inks for her background.   Mr 'M' was a bit of a slow starter this week, so while I was waiting, I coloured up a few of these images, something I haven't done in a while, so you might be seeing this little lady again soon.
I am entering this at:
  Vintage Stamping Challenge - Feminine Beauty
  Crafty Cardmakers - Shabby/Chic
  Rhedd and Rosie Challenge - Anything Goes
  Crafty Hands Challenge - Anything Goes

DD and 'new' SIL came for tea and a lovely catch up, sounds like they had a fabulous time in Mexico, but they're back to the real world and work today.  It looks like we're in for some stormy weather over the weekend - great for crafting - so I might just have to have a little 'play'!

Thanks for visiting, I really do appreciate it.

Avril xx

It's Halloween time at Try it on Tuesday

Time for another challenge at Try it on Tuesdays and of course this time of the year we just had to do Halloween, which we know lots of you love.
For me personally, its something I always struggle with - I just don't have any Halloween stamps at all, so I spent an hour or so looking on the web for some suitable images and couldn't resist this 'Witches Brew Party'   I also found lots of  labels and posters.
The rest of the DT have some really spooky creations to show, so please pop over to the main blog to see

I am entering this at:
   Eclectic Ellapu - Halloween
  Dream Valley Challenges - Halloween
  Simply Create Too - Halloween
  Crafty Boots - Halloween

I'm off to meet some friends for lunch today, but we won't be having any Witches Brew as our chosen place is one where we all need to drive!

Thanks for stopping by and  I hope you all have a great week - DD returns home tomorrow so I'm looking forward to seeing her.

Avril xx

Make a Card at FSC

Where have the last 2 weeks gone!  Thanks goodness I was organised with my DT card for Fashionable Stamping Challenges where this fortnights theme is 'Make a Card' - just cards, nothing else.  Once again we are sponsored by Flonzcraft who are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.

I have used one of the Gibson Girl images, together with Graphic 45 Ladies Diary and a CI postcard stamp and an old book page, torn and inked with Vintage Photo DI  The backing paper is K&Co.  My shabby flower was punched with a Retro punch.

It would be lovely if you could join us for this challenge and if you need any inspiration the rest of the DT have some wonderful cards to show, so please pop over to the main blog and take a look.

I am entering this at:
  Stampin for the Weekend - Anything Goes
  Crafting by Design - Anything Goes
  Artistic Inspiration - Anything Goes
  365 Cards - Vintage with a Stamped image
  Penny Black & More - Anything Goes

I feel as if I am still playing catch up with visiting and Mr Mojo keeps going walkabout which isn't helping - , but I've got some craft time planned for tomorrow, so hopefully Mr. 'M' will make an appearance!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend whatever you are doing.

Avril xx

Midweek Reminder for Texture at TioT

Thanks for looking - this is my first ever canvas - I started this a couple of weeks ago for my DT piece for Try it on Tuesday which this fortnight is Texture, and,  I did have an idea of what I wanted this to be like, but this was nothing like it!
Believe it or not - but it started with a lovely old fashioned rose napkin, which was torn and glued to the canvas, covered with a coat of watery Fresco Snowflake paint and then had to be left for more pressing matters, namely the wedding! My idea was a dragonfly in an old country garden, but somewhere in the making I lost sight of the roses after spraying with a couple of Perfect Pearls mists, (they are there in the corners)  I used embossing paste with a TCW Mariposas stencil for the dragonfly, and script, then the Hollyhock from Sweet Poppy Stencils that I won a couple of weeks ago over at Craft Room Challenge.  To create the depth I inked an Imaginations  Leaf Swirl with Iced Spruce and Bundled Sage DIs and then used some embossing paste to bring some leaves to the front.  The embossing was covered in various gilding pastes.
There are some wonderful Texture creations on the main blog, so please pop over to have a look and you still have one more week to enter.
I almost didn't post this - not sure if it's ............well you know what I mean.  So any comments, pointers or even criticism - but don't be too harsh, all greatly appreciated.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a lovely week.

Avril xx

Back to Normal

Well it's all over like a Wedding!
We had a fabulous day, the weather was glorious and so warm, we couldn't have asked for more.
I only have a couple of photos that I managed to take, so can't bore you!

The happy couple are now in Mexico having a wonderful time - and life is now getting back to normal.  I did promise myself a 'me' day yesterday, but only managed a short time as 3 lots of visitors put paid to that idea.

Anyhow, I did make one tag - the very kind Ignacio of Nicecrane  Designs gave me some images to play with a couple of weeks ago which were perfect for Autumnal cards, so I just had to have a play.  The image is from the Tom Sawyer collection.

I softly coloured with Distress inks and layered onto torn corrugated cardboard that had been distressed and then heat embossed with copper powder, I stamped leaves and painted with Distress Crackle.  My letters were coloured with DI's and then sprinkled with the copper embossing powder.  I saw the sentiment a couple of times yesterday - sorry I can't remember where, so printed it as it fitted perfectly with my falling leaves theme.

I am entering this at:
  C.R.A.F.T - Autumn/Halloween/Thanksgiving
  Creative Belli - Leaves
  Divas by Design - 3 or more layers
  Rhedd and Rosies - Shades of Autumn

Before I go and do some blog visiting to see what I have been missing, I would like to say, 'hello' to my newest followers,  it's great that you want to join me on my crafting journey.
Thanks for visiting, and I hope you all have a great weekend.


Avril xx

Use a Mask or Stencil at FSC

 This is a scheduled post - today is the day after the 'Big Day'! and hopefully everything went according to plan.

The weeks have been rushing by and it's time for another challenge over at FSC and this time we would like you to use a mask or a stencil.  We are again sponsored by Flonzcraft who are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.
I have used Dylusions Couture stamps and paper piece the image.  I used an Imagination Leaf Swirl and a Creative Creative Expressions Fox Glove stencil to create my scene with Distress Inks.  My tag was layered onto black to make a shaped card.

I hope you will join us, and if you kneed any inspiration, then my very talented teamies have some wonderful creations to show, so please pop over to the main blog, you wont be disappointed .

I am entering this at:

MAWTT - Anything Goes                                                                

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes                                                             

Addicted to Stamps - Create a Scene                                                

Penny Black and More - Anything Goes                                                    

I need to get back to normal now that all the wedding preparations are a thing of the past!!!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

Avril xx