Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for 2015.

Avril xx

Little Lady in Red

Hello, and thanks for taking time to visit, it's such a busy time but I thought I'd just share another card made using one of Nicecrane's beautiful Christmas images from the Vintage Merry Christmas sheet.
The die cut frame was distressed with Frayed Burlap and rubbed with Frosted Lace Stickles, Tim Holtz Tattered poinsettia cut from vellum, stamped with a music script and coloured with DIs, the snowflake coated with Diamond Dust.  One more for the hand delivered pile!

Have a great weekend - I think mine needs to  be spent wrapping presents - so unorganised this year!
Avril xx

Turn up the Heat at Fashionable Stamping Challenge

Hello, slowly getting back to normal now which is just as well as there's a new challenge at Fashionable Stamping and I chose the theme 'Turn up the Heat'  which is anything goes as long as you use a Heat Gun, and of course 'real' stamping, and because it's almost Christmas and everyone is so busy, this challenge will run for 4 weeks to give you plenty of time to join in. There is also a  $20 prize for one lucky random winner  from our sponsor, Flonzcraft  to spend in their online store
For my make I decided to use my Tim Holtz Cabinet Card die to make a card.  I cut 4 pieces and dry embossed 2  with the Tim Holtz Clocks folder for the covers. These were coloured with Antique Bronze and Pewter Distress stains and Walnut Stain ink.  The quote is a PaperArtsy stamp which was stamped with Potting Soil Archival and heat embossed with Clear powder.

For the inside I used both parts of Crafty Individuals 305, again stamping and heat embossing with clear powder.  The 'clock' was also masked and a PA  mini was used for the background. My 'gent' was also stamped a second time, fussy cut and then the whole image triple embossed with clear EP.

I made a little pocket on the back cover, heat embossed a clock on a small tag, leaving the reverse for a personal message.

All details as well as some fabulous and very different inspiration, can be found on the main blog.

I am entering this at:
  That's Crafty - Anything Goes
  Artistic Stamper - Anything Goes

Thanks for your visit and enjoy your Sunday.

Avril xx

Brrrrrr It's Cold!

Hello, I'm back after a lovely relaxing holiday - fabulous weather - it was 33 in the shade and night time about 25-  and now back to reality and feeling the cold!
Thank you for all your visits and lovely comments on the scheduled posts, I did appreciate them.
My Christmas cards were all made before I went away, most of them in small batch production lines, great when time is short.
For this one, the main image is a Flonzcraft stamp and I added a snowy background. The background paper was stamped with  Stampendous 'Postcard Greetings' before embossing with a Tim Holtz snowflake folder. The snowflake die cuts were coated with Twinklets Diamond Dust.
That's it for now, some catching up with DT comments and then I can start visiting you lovely blogs to find out what you've all been doing.
Enjoy your weekend.
Avril xx

Winter Whites for Try it on Tuesday

Hello, and another scheduled post as there's a new challenge at Try it on Tuesdays, this fortnight it's Winter Whites.
I love making white cards, but as we all know they're such a nightmare to photograph.
I cut apertures in a scalloped card and some embossed cardstock which was adhered to the base card with 3D foam, then cut a smaller aperture in some snowflake printed vellum for the inside. I cut 3 snowflakes, scored and folded 2 in half, to make my hanging snowflake ornament.  There's lots of Stardust stickles on this card, but pf course it never shows in photographs.
It would be lovely if you could join us for our last challenge of the year, so please pop over here for all the details.
Back soon,
Avril xx

Vintage Christmas

Hello, just a short scheduled post to show another of Nicecrane Design Christmas images.  This one is from the Vintage Merry Christmas sheet. The image was printed onto Ivory hammered card, which gives a lovely vintage texture, cut with Deckle scissors and the Nesti frame cut to fit. The Tim Holtz Tattered poinsettia in vellum was embossed in the CB, and then because it's Christmas - lots of Diamond Dust for sparkle!

I am entering this at:
  Country View Challenges - Vintage Christmas

Thanks for visiting, hope to catch up with you soon.

Avril xx

Winter Wonderland at Fashionable Stamping

Time to tell you about the latest challenge at Fashionable Stamping, which is Winter Wonderland and from our sponsor, Flonzcraft, there's a fabulous $20 Gift voucher for one lucky random winner to spend in their online store.
My tag was first stamped with a Stampendous Greetings background and distressed with Tumbled glass and Chipped Sapphire, next I clear embossed a snowflake onto some white card before dry embossing with a TH folder, I used the same inks to colour and if you look closely you can make out the snowflake pattern. My main image is a Flonzcraft stamp which you can find here,  cut with an oval Nesti after I had made a snowy background and to finish - lots of Diamond Dust for a very frosty look.
The rest of the Design team have some wonderful inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main blog for all the details. Don't forget though,  we are a stamping challenge and must see real stamping on your project which follows the theme.
This is a scheduled post, and hopefully my weather is the opposite of this!
Thanks for visiting and I'll catch up with you soon.
Avril xx

Christmas is Coming at Try it on Tuesdays.

Christmas is coming and it won't be long, so I hope you are all getting prepared, and to help you along, the theme at Try it on Tuesdays this fortnight is 'Christmas is Coming'.
I've been busy making cards, and I'm pleased to say they're all finished and and in their envelopes just waiting to be posted when I get back from holiday.
My card background was embossed with a CB folder, then inked with Peeled paint, Ices Spruce, Fired Brick and Aged Mahogany and then brushed with Perfect Pearls before it was dry, it has a gorgeous sheen which doesn't show in the photo. The Santa image is from Rubber Stampeed.  Santa's key was made with a Martha Stewart mold and UTEE in the melt pot.
The design team have all been busy, so pop over here to see what they have been doing.
I'm off tomorrow for some winter sunshine,it's a 'big' birthday for DH and we will be meeting up with some friends during our first week and then family are joining us for our second week, so I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to it.
Avril xx

Santa

Hello and thanks for visiting today, I've had a busy week,  I'm  trying to get organised for a much needed holiday as well as some Christmas shopping and trying to finish off some Christmas cards.
I'm sharing a card made with a lovely traditional image from Nicecrane Designs which you can find on the Vintage Santa Vol 3 sheet, the image was printed out onto Ivory hammered card, which I think gives a lovely vintage look.
I am entering this at :
  WeDoDoobadoo - Christmas
Just a quick post today, it's a pain when 'life' takes priority!  Hope you're having a great weekend.
Avril xx

Christmas Tags at Fashionable Stamping

Hello, it really is like waiting for a bus around here - wait long enough and one eventually does turn up!
Anyhow, I'm here to tell you about the new challenge at Fashionable Stamping Challenge which is, yes you guessed - Christmas Tags. We have a wonderful sponsor, Flonzcraft, who are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.
I used the Tim Holtz holly stencil for my background, coloured with Forest Moss and Peeled Paint and Fired Brick for the berries.  While the stencil was still in place I stamped a script stamp over the leaves using Iced Spruce DI and then sprinkled Clear EP over and heat embossed for a lovely shine to the leaves, before colouring the rest of the tag, just a shame I covered most of it up! The main image is Tim Holtz 'Letter to Santa' stamped with Potting Soil Archival. I used Brushos to paint his suit.  Joy to the World and the Snowflake were both freebies from magazines.
It would be lovely if you could join us - we all need Christmas Tags and it's a good excuse to make a start, but remember we are a stamping challenge and you need to use real stamps and these must follow the theme, for all the details and some wonderful inspiration from the rest of the team pop over to the main blog.
I am entering this at:
  That's Crafty - Anything Vintage
  Artistic Stampers - Christmas is Coming
  Allsorts - Anything but a Card
  Vintage Stamping Challenge - Anything but a card
  Eclectic Ellapu - Leaves & Foliage
  Live & Love Crafts - Favourite Christmas Colour Combo (Red & Green)

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my canvas I loved making it, although I must say I did feel a bit out of my comfort zone showing it, so thank you.

That's it for now, enjoy your Sunday.
Avril xx

Hand made/Home made at Try it on Tuesday

Hello  - yes I know, 2 posts in 2 days - just like a bus - you wait for ages and then 2 come together! anyhow,  I have to tell you there's a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday which is Handmade/Homemade, so this could be gifts, decorations, wall hangings , but not cards.
For my project, I made this wall hanging, which started life as an offcut of wood from one of DHs little jobs.
I used texture past through a stencil for the script, raised corner and skirt of the dressform, I cut another dressform  in corrugated card to lift this up. The butterfly, roses, and cameo were made with crafters paperclay and silicone molds.  After everything was glued in place I painted with Gesso I then got to work on the colour with home made ink sprays and some Dylusion sprays, and then highlighted areas with Treasure Gold in Aquamarine.
The rest of the team have created some wonderful projects to fire your imagination, so please pop over to the main blog for all the details.
  I am entering this at:
  Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes (no cards)
  The Crafting Cafe - Not a card
  Crafting Musketeers - Anything but a Card
  Craft room challenge - 3D

Thanks for visiting, I do appreciate it.
Avril xx 

Perfect Roses

Hello and thanks for visiting - life has slowly been getting back to normal and I found Mr. Mojo hiding when I was organising the last kitchen cupboard, so I chased him upstairs to my little craft room and closed the door on us - no more shirking!
One of the things  neglected has been the lovely images from  Nicecrane Designs, and this one is  from 'Flowers Bring Smiles II' sheet, has been printed out, waiting to be used for a while.  I covered one of the papers from the Madam Payraud collection with Picket Fence Stain and when dry I added texture paste through a stencil.  My Nesti frame was shortened by cutting half the card and repositioning the frame for the final cut. I used Walnut Stain DI and then randomly sprinkled gold EP before heat setting.  I added small paper roses to the table.
I am entering this at :
  WeDoDoobadoo - Enhance your Die cuts
  CraftyCatz - Ribbon/and or Lace
  Vintage Challenge - Use Lace

Before I go, I would just like to say 'hello and welcome' to some new followers, it's lovely that you want to join me on my creative journey, especially as I have been such an absent blogger of late.
Avril xx

Animals at Fashionable Stamping Challenge

Hi, it's time to tell you about the new challenge at Fashionable Stamping and this time it's Animals - Wild or Domestic - it's up to you, and if you pop over to the main blog you will find all the details as well as some fabulous inspiration from the rest of the DT.  We have Flonzcraft as our sponsor and they are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.
For my card I decided to use some of the bits from my Brusho play a while ago.  These bits, I think, were done with Sandstone, and maybe one of the reds, I thought they had that Autumnal look.  My silhouette  lady walking her dog is from Flonzcraft, was stamped with Versamark, then heat embossed with Black EP.
It would be great if you could join us for this challenge, but remember we are a stamping challenge and you must use real stamps and  that your stamping is the main focal point of your project.

Hope you are all having a good Sunday, can't believe it's November - where did October go to.  I need to get the Christmas card head on and make a start there, otherwise, I'll be buying this year and what a waste that will be.
Thank you for visiting,
Avril xx

Colours of Autumn at Try it on Tuesday

Hello folks, this is a bit late (guess who forgot to press the publish button) but it's time to tell you about the new challenge at Try it on Tuesdays which for this fortnight is Colours of Autumn, and  there is some fabulous inspiration from the rest of the DT if you pop over to the main blog where you will also find all the details.
My tag was made from lots of bits left over from previous projects with a few new additions to bring it together.  My main image, Large Water Mill is from Stampscapes, was torn and then edged with Copper EP to match the embossing on the corrugated cardboard. My leaves were stamped with DIs and then given a coat of Distress Crackle paint.

That's it for now, still trying to organise the kitchen and see if Mr Mojo is hiding in the cupboards.
Avril xx

Hello

Thought I'd say  'Hello' - it feels such  a long time since I was here. I didn't manage to get the crafting time I'd hoped for whilst the builder was busy - probably too much of a nosey parker wanting to see what was  happening in what looked like kitchen demolition, and once the new units were being installed - well - I couldn't stop myself making teas and coffee so I could see what was happening next.  The kitchen is now operational, although I can't find anything!
Saying I can't find anything - that also goes for my missing mojo - so, I will show a box that I made about a month ago and just never got round to sharing.  We'd had something delivered and it came in some 1/2" thick corrugated card, and not wanting to be wasteful,  made something useful.

It measures 5" sq.  I lined it with card and made a divider.  Lined the sides, and distressed the corners.

 I used 4 paper napkins, glued to card - and distressed the edges

Decorated the inside with another napkin,  and sealed it with PaperArtsy Satin Glaze. Glued binding around the top and now its the perfect storage for my paint brushes.

Before I go looking for Mr Mojo, I would just like to say 'hello' to my new followers and Thank you for joining me on my crafty journey, where I hope normal service will be resumed shortly.
Avril xx

It's getting SPOOKY at Try it on Tuesday

Hi folks and thanks for visiting today, Witch is a very Spooktacular Tuesday  - yes it's time for another challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this time it's  SPOOKY.

I don't normally do Halloween, and I think last year was the first time I made a 'proper' Halloween card! (I'm a slow starter)
I was amazed at how many images there are on the internet so decided to have a play with some, lots of fussy cutting, a stamped base and  I think this Witch looks really mean!  

The rest of the design team have some wonderful and varied makes, so please pop over to the main blog and take a look.
I am entering this at:
  Tag Along - Spooktacular
  Simply Create too - Halloween

Thanks for visiting today, I do appreciate it.

Avril xx

Hi, I'm back to show you my first attempts with Brushos and a couple of new stamps from Inkylicious.
I bought the starter set of 5 Brushos which included the Thickener and a few more colours.  I started trying out the colours on a piece of watercolour paper, just to see how they reacted with water and also how much water was needed- which wasn't as much as I first used!  So 'waste not want not' I did a mop up. Then, realising I needed to wait for the reaction with the water I got a much better result.
This tag was made with the mop up and the seam binding thrown in for good measure.  I stamped with Archival and heat embossed clear EP on the image and raindrops.

For this tag, I stamped and embossed the image first and then sprinkled the Brushos and lightly spritzed with water.  I also spritzed the ribbon with water before sprinkling on some Brusho powders.
I've mixed up some of the Thickener, but the instructions say 24 hrs before using, so I'm hoping to get in some play time between the endless stream of cups of tea that I seam to be making.
I think my weekend is going to be spent clearing up the mountain of dust that seems to have seeped into every corner of the house before it starts again next week.
Avril xx

Oh Baby

Hi folks and thanks for your visit,
It's another baby card! yes, you will have seen quite a few this year and hopefully this is the last  - until January when I will need to start again.  So, when Ignacio of Nicecrane Designs sent me Bringing Life Sweet Kids  sheet to work with,  his timing couldn't have been better, and I just had to use this gorgeous baby.
I printed the image on white linen card layered on a scalloped circle. The background is embossed with CB Swiss Dots and one of their border folders and a couple of scored lines. Simple but effective.
I am entering this at
  Fab 'n' Funky - Anything with Ribbon

Had a good time at GNP on Saturday - didn't spend too much, but did get some Brushos, so need to get them out and play and distract myself from all the dust and smell of wet plaster!

Before I go I would just like to say hello to my new followers, it's lovely that you have chosen to follow me on my crafty journey.

That's it for now - Brushos await!

Avril xx

Anything Goes at Fashionable Stamping

Hi folks, today see the start of a new Challenge over at Fashionable Stamping and it's one you all like 'Anything Goes'  so as long as you use real stamps and your stamping is the main focal point of your project please join us as we have Flonzcraft as our sponsor and they are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.
For my card I have used Artistic Outpost 'Paris Exposition'  for my main image, coloured with Distress inks
I've gone for a very shabby look with this card - I used Picket Fence stain on the DP before Stencilling with embossing paste.  A torn page from a french novel, lace and muslin under the layered image. My flowers are a Joy craft die and inked with Milled lavender and Dusty concord with seam binding stained to match.
  I am entering this at:
    That Craft Place -  Shabby/Chic
    Artistic Outpost - Show us Your Art - Anything Goes

Just a quick post from me,  last couple of things to pack away before I loose the kitchen tomorrow, so it's 2 weeks of no kitchen duties - hoping to get some crafting time in while the builder is busy, fingers crossed.
Enjoy your Sunday.
Avril xx

Animals at TioT

Hi and welcome to a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday, and this time it's 'Animals' wild or domesticated.

This was a bit of a challenge for me - I realised I didn't have any stamps or anything with animals, not even a Christmas reindeer until I saw this 'freebie' with a magazine last week.  So here goes Christmas card number 1.  The image was stamped with Versamark on navy cardstock and brushed with Perfect Pearls.  Matted onto pearlised card stock that had been embossed with a TH Snowflakes EF. This was a nightmare to photograph!
My teamies have some wonderful inspiration so please pop over to the main blog, you won't be disappointed.

Thanks for visiting, I do appreciate it.

Avril xx

Born to Stand Out!

Hi Folks, just thought I'd  share another card made a few weeks ago, when I was using the masculine images from  Artistic Outpost stamps.
I have used the Deisel Punk set for the main image and background, and the sentiment is from the Think and Wonder set, torn script, a TH embossed sheet and all shading in Vintage Photo and Walnut stain.  My 'born to stand out' guy was coloured with Broken China and the shading on the image was done with the nesti die still in place to look like an old photo.
I challenged myself to use the masculine images first and now I just need is some time to use the others - and spare time is something that has been very short lately and might be for the next few weeks, as we are having major kitchen alterations starting next Monday which will also impact on another room, and I'm not the quickest at making decisions, but very good at changing my mind!  Lots more packing away to finish before Friday, as I already have my ticket for Harrogate GNP on Saturday - got to get the priorities right!!
Is anyone going - it would be lovely to meet up?
I am entering this at:
   Artistic Outpost - Show us your Art
   Red Rubber Inspirationals - Stay Focused on Stamping
   Vintage Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes
   We Dodoobadoo - Something Masculine

Thanks for visiting, I do appreciate it, especially as I'm not the best of visitors lately.
Have a great week,
Avril xx

Q for Quadruple at Alphabet

Hi Folks, it's time for another letter in the Alphabet Challenge and this time it's 'Q'.  It was my pick and I came up with 'Quadruple' so we want to see you using 4 of the same items.
For my card I have used a Nicecrane image Floral Greetings, which was printed onto white Linen card.
I have 4 layers underneath the image including some muslin and I have used 4 flowers and 4 leaves.
Pop over to the main blog for all the details and some great inspiration from the rest of the team.
I am entering this at:
  Crafty Creations - Vintage
  Sisterhood of Crafters - Lots of Layers

Thanks for visiting, I do appreciate it.  Have a great weekend.
Avril xx

Trees with Autumn Colour

Hi folks, it's time for another challenge at Fashionable Stamping and this time it's a seasonal one - Trees with Autumn colour.  We have Flonzcraft as our sponsor and they are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.
My tree image is from Clarity stamps and the script is Graphic 45, these were stamped in Potting Soil Archival, before colouring with Wild honey, Seedless Preserve and Forest Moss Distress ink, I then spritzed with water and dabbed the colour from around the tree with a tissue.  I added a little home-made gold Frantage around the edges.   My background uses the same colours and script stamp.  The leaves were stamped onto vellum with Wild honey DI, fussy cut and then edged with Walnut Stain.
It would be lovely if you could join us for this challenge, but don't forget, we are a stamping challenge and need to see that your stamping follows the theme.  For all details and more inspiration from the rest of the team, please pop over  to the main blog.
I am entering this at:
  Artistic Stamper - Autumn Colours
  WeDoDodoobadoo - Something Masculine
  Simply Create Too - Fall/Autumn
  Fantasy Stampers - Autumn
  Oldie but a Goodie - Autumn (Everything is old)

Thanks for visiting, I do appreciate it.  Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Avril xx

Beauty in Black and White

Hi folks and thanks for visiting.
Today sees me sharing a card that I made using one of Nicecranes lovely images - Bringing Life Vintage Bathing.  Although this image is 'a bathing beauty'  I think she looks like a flapper from the 20's, so I decided not to go down the bathing/beach theme, and  have instead, framed her 'picture' ready to send off to her 'young man'.
That's it for  now,
Avril xx

Recycle

Hello and thanks for visiting. Today sees the start of a new Challenge at Try it on Tuesday and for this fortnight our theme is 'Recycle'
I chose to use up some corrugated packaging card and a clothing tag to make my hanging
I peeled back the top layer of the packaging, so messy, and then  to 'glam' this up I randomly added some gold embossing powder.  My next layer was a piece of mop up card - which I stamped with the TH Papillion script, and again added the gold ep around the edges.  My tag was painted with some leftover cream emulsion paint, and rubbed with a baby wipe to take back some of the paint I then stamped with the butterflies, which were also stamped onto some leftover vellum.
I hope you will join us in this challenge to 'recycle' and should you need any inspiration, hop over to the main blog so see what the Team, including our two new members Sirkka and Pamellia have created, you won't be disappointed.
  I am entering this at:
  Stamping Sensations - Things with Wings
  Natalie and Amy's - Things with Wings
  Butterfly challenge - Ugly Bugs Ball (any insect with wings can attend)

That's it for now, Take care
Avril xx

Musique

Hi and thanks for visiting today, seems ages since I last managed to post on here!
Thought I would just show a card using another 'mop up tag' that had been lying around for ages.
After the mop ups, I sprayed some Perfect Pearls and added some embossing paste through a TH Doily stencil and then rubbed on some gilding wax.  My image is Musique from Clarity.  For the card base I used the Doily stencil with Victorian Velvet, Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord and Worn Lipstick Distress inks lightly as I didn't want to detract from the finish on tag.  My flowers were made with the paperclay and lightly coloured with a dry paint brush and DIs.
I am entering this at:
  That's Crafty - Girl Power
  Vintage Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes
  A Creative Romance - Anything Goes
  SimonSaysStamp - Create your own background

Thanks again for visiting, I do appreciate it.  Hope you enjoy the rest of your Weekend.

Avril xx

In the Garden and Mid challenge reminder for TioT

Hello and thanks for your visit.
The current challenge over at Try it on Tuesday is How Does Your Garden Grow, which made me realise I had not used my Graphic 45 Secret Garden papers for a while and, as I am really trying to 'use' my stash, gave me the perfect  opportunity to dig them out!
You still have one more week to enter this challenge, so pop over here for all the details.

I am entering this at
  Craft Hoarders - All the Pretty Flowers

Thanks for visiting, I really do appreciate it.
Avril xx

Fashion Time

Hello and welcome to another challenge at Fashionable Stamping  and for this fortnight the theme is 'Fashion'
so come on and join us on the catwalk and show your fashionable creations.
We are again sponsored by Flonzcraft who are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.
I needed to make a Birthday card for a friend who is always so stylish, which gave me the inspiration to use this beautiful lady from one of the Graphic 45 Couture stamp sets, (I think I've only inked her up once before) stamped first on white card and then onto some red paper from the Couture papers and paper pieced, DPs are also from the same paper pad. The quote is also  from the same stamp set.
All details of the challenge are on the main blog, as well as some fabulous inspiration from the rest of the DT, so pop over here to take a look.  Just remember, we are a stamping challenge and your main image must be stamped and follow the theme.

I am entering this at:
  WeDoDoobadoo - Something Feminine
  That's  Crafty - Girl Power  (edit have just seen that I didn't do the link up last week - rectified now)

Looks like another lovely day, so enjoy your Sunday
Thanks for visiting, I do appreciate it.
Avril xx

Mopping up!

Hi Folks and thanks for visiting today.   Our last challenge over at Try it on Tuesday was 'Use Your Stash'
and it really got me thinking how much 'stash' we have, be it stamps, papers or whatever.  I have a box of tags and papers that have mopped up inks, stains and  paints all waiting to be used, and found these which were perfect for this 'little angel' aren't they cute!  The images are all  from Artistic Outpost's  Diesel  Punk set, (AliCraft have reduced all their AO stamps on the website if anyone's interested, I thought it would be rude not to buy!)  My little boys wings are from Nicecrane's Colourful Butterflies which were stamped on vellum, and the girl's are a freebie stamp from CS magazine.

I am entering this at:
  Craft Room challenge - something Old and Something New (old mop up tags - new stamps)
  Natalie and Amy - Things with Wings
  Divas by Design - Tags

Thanks for looking,
Avril xx
  

How does your Garden Grow

Time for another challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this fortnights theme is 'How Does your Garden Grow' so we would love to see what's in your Garden - Flowers, Fruit Trees, and it's up to you what you make as long as you follow the theme.

                                                       


 This was actually a cigar box, I was given a larger cigar box and inside there were 3 boxes, they still had the wrappers and red ribbons in the boxes.
This was the original

It's now a paperweight...I started by putting some builders sand mixed with PVA in the 'bottom' before sealing along the opening.  I then painted it with Mermaid and South Pacific Fresco paints.  I stamped the Joffy Flowers and sentiments onto tissue paper and coloured the reverse, I used watered down PVA to add this to the 4 sides, and of course my 'garden' had to have a butterfly, which was added to the top.
The rest of the DT are showing some great gardening skills, so please pop over to take a look.

I am entering this at
  Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes
  Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting today,
Avril xx

Melt Pot Art

Just thought I'd tell you what a great afternoon I had yesterday when, along with  Yvonne of Meggys Way, we attended a Hels Sheridan workshop on the Melt Pot at Crafty Corner in South Shields.
This is the canvas that I made, and apart from the base painting, all techniques involved were using the Melt Pot, using Beeswax and UTEE, and I can assure you lots of lovely mess and chatter was enjoyed by all, and Hels was a great tutor.  The only downside to the afternoon was that it all went over too quickly, but that seems to happen when you enjoy yourself so much and I don't think anyone wanted the afternoon to end.
It's such a shame that the Melt pot has been discontinued, and that was Hels last workshop teaching this great technique, I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity, which has given me more confidence to use mine.
Thanks for visiting, I do appreciate it.

Avril xx

Ombre!

Time for another challenge at Alphabet Challenge and this time it's O for Ombre - meaning a colour gradient from dark to light or vice versa.
I've gone very CAS for this tag, I first stamped my image,  Penny Black' Dreamy' and the Tim Holtz sentiment and heat embossed with white powder.  I shaded first with Chipped sapphire, on 1/3rd of the card, then Faded Jeans on the middle third and lastly Tumbled Glass which was sponged over the whole tag blending the colours.

For more inspiration head over to the main blog where the rest of the team have some great makes to show.

That's if for now, thanks for your visit and I hope you have a great weekend.

Avril xx

Parisienne Boys!

Hi and thanks for visiting,  last week with no internet and a couple of free days I put the time to good use and inked up some new stamps. My images are all from the Artistic Outpost 'Paris Exposition' apart from the sentiment which is from the Think and Wonder set.  The main image was stamped with Black Archival as I wanted the 'boys' to look crisp, for the rest I used Archival Watering can. I used Frayed Burlap for the distressing and distress markers for the colouring.
I usually struggle with male cards and so I challenged myself to use the masculine images first before allowing myself to go girly, so pleased I did as I see the challenge over at That's Crafty is 'This is a Mans World'  and the challenge at Lunargirl Moonbeams is 'Lets here it for the Boys'  I am also linking this up to the Artistic Outpost monthly challenge - Anything Goes.

Well that's it for now,  off to do some blog visiting now.
Avril xx

Birthday card for Someone Special at FSC

Time for another challenge at Fashionable Stamping and this time it's 'A Birthday card for Someone Special'
and as long as we can see that the stamping is the main feature and that this follows the theme, then we would love you to join us.  We are sponsored by Flonzcraft who are offering on lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.
This is the Birthday card I made for DD earlier in the month.  I used a Prima 'Texture Flourish stencil for the background  and various Distress inks, the stencil itself isn't big enough for what I wanted, but the pattern joins up perfectly for the size I wanted.  The Dylusions Couture stamp was stamped in black and heat embossed and then again on some MME embossed papers, before fussy cutting. The sentiment is Tim Holtz.
The flowers, not as white as they look in the photo,( infact everything is brighter, but those flowers just wouldn't show)  are a Joy crafts die and inked with Tattered Rose and Worn Lipstick.
The rest of the team have made some 'special' cards, so please pop over here, you won't be disappointed.

I hope you all enjoy the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend,  and the weather's not to chilly - feels like Autumn has arrived here in the NorthEast!  
I'm off to do some catching up in Blogland after having lost internet and phone connection for 3 days this week due to an external line fault - thought I might not even get this post up at one stage.

I am entering this at:
   Allsorts - Bright Summery colours  (I do promise it is brighter)
  Artistic Stamper - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting, it really appreciate it.
Avril xx

Use Your Stash

Use your Stash - thats the new theme at Try it on Tuesday, and we want you to use what you have, or what's lying around, and everyone has stuff that was started for one reason or another and then put in a pile to use at a later date, so why not use something from there,  I did.
The card base, a background from the 'pile', the sentiment bought from Inkylicious at GNP in March, which I had stamped and clear embossed a few on a sheet, the clock die cut from a pack I  bought on Ebay about a year ago and have only used a couple and the flowers, I have a box full of die cuts that have been scrunched and just waiting to be inked and assembled.
The rest of the team have some fabulous stash items to show, so please pop over and take a look.
As always, it's up to you what you create, so raid that stash and show us what you have.

I am entering this at:
  Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
  That's Crafty - Use Stamps

Thanks for your visit today, have a great week.
Avril xx

Summer Days

Hello,  I can't remember the last time I posted 2 days in a row, but I was determined to have one more play with this set of stamps before summer is over, although the way the weather is at the moment, I feel as if it has gone!
My background paper was quite a bright blue stripe, so to tone it down I gave it a wash with Picket Pence Distress Stain, before adding my net from some fruit packaging.  My images are Crafty Individuals, and the Tim Holtz Film strip with some cut outs behind.
There are still quite a few Summer challenges around, as well as our Wish you were Here challenge at Try it on Tuesdays (I didn't get this finished on time for mid-challenge insp .but you still have time to link up) so I am entering this at:
  Vintage Stamping Challenge - Summer Days
  Eclectic Ellapu - Nautical/Seaside (Pink Team)
  Sugar Creek Hollow - Summer Sunshine
  Crafty Catz - Lazy Days of Summer
  That's Crafty - Stamping Ground (using Stamps)

Thanks for visiting
Avril x

Birthday Time at In the Pink!

Hello and thanks for visiting today, which sees me entering a very special challenge, it's In the Pink's 2nd Birthday, and although I haven't managed to enter many of their challenges,  I couldn't miss this one, especially as I was one of the Perfect Pinkies of the very first challenge.
I have used a Nicecrane image 'All Season Hats', which was printed out on a Linen card, I stamped a little corner, which was a freebie from Crafty Individuals, using Distress Markers.   My background was pink card, repeatedly stamped with a Stampendous background stamp using Victorian Velvet.
I am also entering this at Simply Create Too as their theme is Old/Vintage

Thanks for looking, and have a good week.
Avril xx

Make us Laugh!

Hello and welcome to another challenge over at Fashionable Stamping,  where the theme this fortnight is 'Make us Laugh'
I used a Stampendous 'dolly mamma' stamp called - yes you've guessed it - 'Does my Butt look Big'.
I coloured her then masked and splatted  Dylusions and some home made sprays for the background, a bit of glitter to her dress - well dressed like that you have to have glitter! Matted onto a black card base, a great one layer card for posting.
The rest of the DT have some great cards to Make You Laugh, so please pop over here, you won't be disappointed, and then let us see what Makes You Laugh.  Don't forget though, we are a stamping challenge and we must see stamping and this must follow the theme.  We also have Flonzcraft as our Sponsor and they are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.
I am entering this at:
  Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
  Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes

Hope you're able to enjoy the weekend and not too badly affected by the storms,
Take care,
Avril xx

Wishing You were Here at TioT

Time for another challenge at Try it on Tuesday and our theme this fortnight is 'Wish You Were Here'  There are lots of different way to interpret of this theme,postcards, places and the rest of the Design team have some wonderful inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main blog, you won't be disappointed.
I wanted a nostalgic feel to my tag - my lady writing to her beau and reminding him of the wonderful time they spent together in Paris, and  wishing they could be there, together again.
I used  Crafty Individuals C260 as the main image, stamping 4 times, distressing and layering up, and my lady was clear embossed after colouring as I wanted her to look like a miniature painting, the frame was coloured with Aquamarine Treasure Gold.  For the background I used IndigoBlu 'All Saints' Stamp, and a CI little 'freebie' for the border.
I'm looking forward to seeing where you wish you were, so please join in and let us know.

I am entering this at:
  Card Mania - Travel/Vacation
  Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes

That's it for now,

Avril xx

Men Only!

Time for another Alphabet Challenge and this time it's M for Men Only, so as long as its a masculine project, we would love to see it.
I made this little altered matchbox after seeing an article in CS a couple of months ago, and after buying this PaperArtsy 'Gentleman Social Butterfly' at a local craft show in June, my theme was decided and this was his little box of possessions.

As he is a social sort of guy, there had to be music, and what better way to display the butterflies, and although it's hard to see,  were clear embossed after colouring with Distress inks.
His possessions, I stamped and clear embossed a pocket watch, he always likes to be on time, a ticket, or maybe I should have had two, because being 'sociable' he probably didn't go alone!  The little bottles (stamped on acetate and coloured with alcohol markers and then shaped) - well they could be for a sly tipple or maybe his eau-de-cologne!

Of course, there's the pen nib, he may have to write a quick note!  

I am entering this at:                                                                                                                            

                  

Addicted to Stamps - Anything Goes                                                                                          

Cards 4 Guyz - Anything but a Card                                                                                           

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes                                                                                              

Simon Says Wednesday challenge - Anything Goes                                                                     

Miriam's Crafting Blog - Containers                                                                                            

Craft for the Craic - Use an item you have never used before(stamp)                                            

Well, I hope you like my little box, I really enjoyed making this, I just need to light a lot of candles now, you see my little matchbox wasn't empty before I started!                                                                                 

Have a great weekend.                                                                                                                             

Avril xx