Scary Snowman!

Hello,  it seems such a long time since I posted anything on here, but unorganised chaos seemed to be the norm after my holiday in December - anyhow, I had a lovely crafty day yesterday and have managed to complete a page in my little vintage journal.  The page had been given a coat of Gesso, so I applied a watery wash using Tumbled Glass Distress stain and then some smudging with the TG crayon.  I've used embossing paste through a stencil and then sprinkled with White EP which was heated when the paste was dry.  I stamped some snowflakes, part of a set that I won at Paperbabe at the end of November, in silver and punched some snowflakes from white glitter paper and added a couple of die cut trees.(They are white, although they look quite dirty in the photos)  The photo is me!  I made this scary snowman, (with what looks like grass for hair) in my Grandparents garden, I think I'm about 5.
I'm obviously enjoying myself, so I think this page fits in with Art Journal Journey, where Elizabeth has chosen the theme of 'Tis The Season'  - I did have a number of ideas for this theme, but crafting time has been non existent this month -  I have missed it.

Thanks for calling in, but before I go, I would like to wish You All a Happy, Healthy and Creative 2019.

Avril xx

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to You All

My Best Wishes for a Peaceful Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Crafty New Year

Hugs, Avril xx

Guess Who's Coming

Time for our last challenge of the year at Try it on Tuesday and it's 'Guess Who's Coming', well, we all know who that it is, and I really need to get my skates on or this 'lovely man' will be making an appearance for real and I won't be ready, that's what I get for having a holiday in December!

My Santa is from Tim Holtz's  Christmas Classic stamps, and I've made a small batch, just varying the papers.  Santa was stamped in Potting Soil archival ink and coloured with Distress markers, I've also added some background stamping with the small elements from the set.  I've added some Festive Greens and shabby bows stained with Distress stain in Festive Berries.

The rest of the Design Team have some lovely inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main blog for all the details.

I am entering this at
  Penny Black and More - Traditional Christmas Colours
  Country View Crafts - Christmas
  Shopping Our Stash - Tis The Season
  That's Crafty - Anything Goes

Have a great day and I'll be around to catch up with you now that I'm back and have permanent internet! but first I'm out for Christmas lunch with a group of friends and we're doing our 'Secret Santa' , so I guess he's definitely on his way.

Avril xx

Winter

It's time for a new challenge at Fashionable Stamping and this month the theme is 'Winter'

I took advantage to make another Christmas card, again flat for posting.  I used a torn copy paper mask to create the hillside after stamping the log cabin from Artistic Outpost, in Potting soil archival ink.  I used Iced Spruce to stamp the trees and PS to stamp the little deer, the sentiment was heat embossed with Silver EP, and although difficult to see, there's lots of DecoArt Glamour Dust to creat that winter sparkle.

The rest of the Design Team have some wonderful inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main blog for all the challenge details and information about our Sponsor Ink Art Designs, who are offering one lucky random winner a shop from the online store.

I'm entering this at
  Stamping Sensations - Winter Sparkle
  Country View Crafts - Christmas
  Craft Stamper - Take It Make It
 

Another schedule post, but I'll catch up with you soon.
Avril xx

Winter Wonderland

Time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this time it's Winter Wonderland.  It's up to you how you interpret this, but I chose to make a Christmas card, nice and flat for posting too.

I tore a couple of masks for my snowy hillside scene and then stamped some trees and deer which came free with a magazine in Weathered Wood, my splendid stag, stamped in Potting Soil Archival is from Artistic Outpost Midwinter set.  The sentiment, another freebie, was stamped and heat embossed with Silver EP.

It would be great if you could join us, and the rest of the DT have some great inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main blog, where you will also find all the challenge details.

This is a schedule post as we're enjoying some winter sunshine to celebrate hubby's birthday, but if the intermittent internet holds up, I'll still be able to catch up, fingers crossed.

Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

Midwinter

Hello, well things have certainly been a little quite on here, but I needed to be disciplined and make a start/complete the Christmas cards.  I've made quite a few, mainly in batches even though it's not as enjoyable, but needs must.

I've had these aperture cards since -  forever, so time to use!  I embossed the central aperture with the TH Snowflake EF after inking it with various shades of blue,  the little scene is from Artistic Outpost Midwinter and some background stamping of TH Tree Line, and a couple of die cuts.

Well, at least that's a few more for the pile.

I am entering this at Stamping Sensations - Get Ready for Christmas

Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

Family Memories

It's time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this fortnight the theme is Friends and Family, so I decided to do another page in my Family Journal, and this time I've used a photo of my Mum and Dads wedding.

The background was given a coat of Gesso before using DecoArt Crackle paste through the TH Lace stencil.  I've used various watery washes of Antique Linen, Spun Sugar and edged with Tumbled Glass Distress crayon smudged with a baby wipe, before stamping with script and background stamps, using  Frayed Burlap. The words were computer generated.

The rest of the DT have some wonderful inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main blog for all the details.

I am entering this at Art Journal Journey where Erika has chosen the theme of Vintage or Modern, this is definitely vintage.

Thanks for calling in, have a great day and I hope to do some catching up with you as soon as the washing's done!

Avril xx

Resisting for Christmas

It's time for a new challenge at Fashionable Stamping and for this month the theme is 'Resist' - and we'd love to see some form of 'resist' stamping.

November gave me the wake up call to start some Christmas cards and for this one I've used  'the Gent' from Tim Holtz Deco Christmas.  He was stamped in Black Archival ink and embossed with Clear EP.  Next I stamped the greeting with VersaMark and again heat embossed with Silver EP.
The snowflakes were then stamped with VersaMark and embossed with White EP.

I masked off the bottom section and then blended Tumbled Glass and Faded Jeans Distress Inks for the sky.  I then used a soft tissue to remove the ink from the embossed areas. before creating a little background scene with masking and stamping.

The rest of the Design team have some great inspiration for you so please pop over to the main blog, where you will also find all the challenge details.  We also have Ink Art Designs as our sponsor and one lucky random winner will receive a stamp from the online store.

I am entering this at
  Stamping Sensations - Get Ready for Christmas
  Cards4Guyz - Winter Blues

This is a schedule post as we're due back from holiday tomorrow and I'll catch up with you soon.
Have a great day, Avril xx

Flower vase tag

 

Hello and thanks for calling in, I've had another play with the Flower Vase set to create a tag for a special gift.
For the background I used Crackle paste with the Gothic stencil and then Distress Inks, but didn't like it, so a coat of Gesso and then some Antique linen DI shading - much better.  The sentiment was stamped over the embossing, what would we do without the stamp platform!  I added some vintage lace and then the flower jar.

This is a scheduled post as we're having a short break away in one of my favourite cities, Budapest. 
Some of you asked how the hedgehogs were getting on, before we came away they were still coming, although not often together.  I'm wondering if they might have hibernated by the time we get back, I'll let you know.

Avril xx

Definitely a Treat!

After not having any young children living in the vicinity, we now have two families with young children living on either side of our house, so I'm expecting some callers tonight and thought I would make some little Treat boxes.

I've used empty tea boxes and covered them with papers, distressing the edges and corners and then added some leftover die cuts for a bit of fun.

Halloween stuff all put away for another year now, but I must say, I did enjoy  making this year.

Stay safe tonight!!
Avril xx

Thankful

It's time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and for this fortnight the theme is 'Thankful'
and we would love to see what you are Thankful for - a kindness/Harvest or Thanksgiving.

I've made a Thank You card and what better way to say 'thank you' than with flowers, so I've used a couple of blooms from the Glower Garden set, stamped onto watercolour paper and coloured with Abandoned Coral Distress ink.  The bas layer is DP from stash, some vintage music paper and a torn piece of card embossed with 3D Botanical folder.

The Design team have some great inspiration for you, so please pop over to the blog and you will also find all the challenge details.

I am entering this at Crafting with Dragonflies - Be Thankful

Have a great day,
Avril xx

BOO!

Another Halloween card,  this time not too scary as it's for the little girl who lives next door.  I've used Distress inks to create the background and lots of die cuts.  The 'Boo' was cut with black card and covered with DecoArt Glamour Dust for a bit of sparkle.

If you're making Halloween cards, etc. you still have a couple of days left to join in the fun at Try it on Tuesday, you can find all the details here.

I'm entering this at:
  That's Crafty - Spookalicious
  Moving Along with the Times -  Halloween


Thanks for calling in
Avril xx

Wicked!

Well, there's something in the air and I'm not just talking about the chill!  We've seen some great entries for the Trick or Treat Halloween challenge at Try it on Tuesday and you still have another week to join in our fun.

When I first started blogging I didn't have a clue about Halloween cards, and certainly didn't have anything that was remotely suitable, but now after seeing so many fabulous cards and projects I'm really starting to like this time of the year and couldn't resist making quite a few cards this year.

My 'wicked' gent is from Stamp Addicts  Skull-tastic and the set includes the Mr. S's accessories.
I've given him a top hat and bow tie and used 3d foam pads to lift him from the embossed background.  The sentiment is computer generated.

Don't forget to pop over to TioT where you will find all the challenge details to join in the fun.

I'm entering this at Simon Says - Halloween/Spooky

Take care, you never know who is lurking...
Avril xx

Alcohol Lift

My first attempt using the Alcohol Lift, definitely need more practice!

I used the Glorious Bouquet  as my stamp and I did like the effect even though I felt the 'lifted' image was pale and this Yupo piece didn't have a lot of definition, and not wanting to waste a pretty background..…….  I die cut an oval frame and used an old Moon Glow Embossing powder in Cosmic Blue with Versamark to add detail.

I've used the Tim Holtz Flower Jar stamps and dies with purple shades of Distress inks and used Glossy Accents over the jar.  I thought about adding a sentiment, but it's Yupo, so didn't want to stamp and  heat emboss and risk it warping.

Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

Home Sweet Home

I've set myself a challenge to join in at Art  Journal Journey at least once each month and although I'm not very confident and think is this OK,  I'm  really enjoying the 'just playing' feeling.

The theme this month is Creature Comforts chosen by Linda, I  took my inspiration literally and when my friend came for a crafty night with this  hanging bat stamp, I couldn't wait to give him a cosy home.

Lots of distress inks, a brick stencil and lots of creepy spiders, perfect play time!

Thanks for calling in I do appreciate it.
Avril xx

Something Wicked

It's time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this fortnight, yes you've guessed now  it's the time of year for Trick or Treat/Halloween.

I've used Distress inks for the background black and black Distress crayon.  I added white gesso to age the black die cut haunted house and used inks and  distress markers to colour the lights in the windows.
The skull is from a Stamp Addicts set and I've added red glitter to the eye sockets and for the 'blood' dripping from his teeth.  It's a computer generated sentiment.

The Design Team have some Spooktacular inspiration for you, so please pop over to be scared.

I am entering this at:
  That's Crafty - Spookalicious
  Paperbabe - Anything Goes


Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

Book pages

The new challenge at Fashionable Stamping is to use book pages, these can be stamped or real.

I've stamped this neglected Here Arts Poppy onto tissue paper that had been stamped with the Tim Holtz Papillion background stamp and then stamped again onto book pages with black Archival and embossed with Clear EP.  After colouring with Distress inks I fussy cut the heads and attached onto the Tissue.  The base layer is a piece of DP stamped with a script and ledger stamp.

The Design Team have some great inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main blog where you will find all the challenge details, along with details of our sponsor Ink Art Designs, who are offering a lucky random winner a stamp from their online store.  Don't forget, we are a stamping challenge so we must see real stamping that follows the theme.

Thanks for calling in, have a great day.
Avril xx

Still Glorious

Hello, and thanks for calling in, and I've another card made with the Glorious Bouquet.  I love this stamp, and although I'm not one for colouring images, there's no need to worry about shading as it's such a detailed stamp.  I've used autumn shades of Distress inks to colour and used two of the stamps from the Ornate Trims, and second generation stamping with Antique Linen Oxide to create a worn wallpaper looking background.

I thought I'd share a couple of pictures, I've been feeding a hedgehog every night since August, when I first saw him he was eating the suet and insect pellets I feed the birds with, so it was a trip to the supermarket for dog food the next day.

It must be good, because he has now brought a 'friend',  but now as he/she's coming earlier (7 - 7.15  every night) I find I'm watching anxiously for him/them, hoping he hasn't been knocked down by a car on his way!

Well, that's it for now, have a great weekend, 

Avril xx

Black & White + 1 Colour

Black and White plus ONE Colour is the new challenge at Try it on Tuesday this fortnight.

I've picked 'Picked Raspberry' as my colour on both of these cards.  For my first, I've used the Picked Raspberry Distress Ink through an IndigoBlu stencil on  white card.  The image, one of the ladies from Dylusions Couture set was stamped on the card with black and heat set the legs with clear EP, stamped again onto black card with Versamark and heat set using White EP, then fussy cut.  I stamped the bow on white and coloured with Picked Raspberry.

My second card used the same stencil and this time I used Picked Raspberry Oxide ink on black, using Oxide inks on black does slightly change the colour.  The lady was stamped with Versamark and I heat set the legs with White EP, stamped again with black ink onto white card and heat embossed with clear EP and fussy cut.  I used Picked Raspberry Distress Ink to colour, adding a little glitter to sparkle.  The sentiment was stamped with the P.Rasp Oxide ink and embossed with Clear.
The rest of the team have some great examples of using just one colour, so pop over to the main blog and you will find all the challenge details.

I am entering this at Penny Black and More - Make it Feminine

Thanks for calling in, have a great day,
Avril x

Messy Flowers!

Hello, I've like the Tim Holtz Flower Jar sets for quite a while and last week I 'gave in' and after my first little play, so pleased I did.

This card uses a watery Oxide mop up, I've added white texture paste, which has stayed white - I sometimes find with Oxide inks they bleed into the white paste.  I scribbled distress markers over the stamped images before cutting out with the dies so there are no white edges.  The sentiment, which is from Visible Image was stamped and heat set with clear EP.  A bit 'tongue in cheek' I added a 'fallen' flower to match in with  the sentiment.

I think there will be a stamping and die cutting session soon so that I have lots of these little flowers nice and fresh for the perfect moment.

I am entering this at Penny Black and More - Make it Feminine

Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

Slap It On

It's time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this fortnight we want you to Slap it On.
it's up to you what you slap on - paint, colour, texture,  just have fun.

I decided on another page in my journal, this time using a picture of my Mum as a small child.  My pages were given a coat of gesso before adding ink stains and background stamping.  I've used texture paste which was coloured with DIs when dry and then grounded the pages with smudged crayons before adding the  coloured die cuts and cut apart words.

There's plenty of inspirations from the DT, so please pop over to the main blog for all the details.

Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

Flora

Hello, thanks for calling in, things have been a little quiet in the craft room lately, but I did manage some play time today, and have used an image from Illustrated Garden.
I've stamped the image onto a mop up piece of card, and although it looks white in the photo, it's really is quite distressed.  I've coloured the flowers with Fossilized Amber DI.  My base was dipped in Antique Linen, Broken China and Iced Spruce Oxide inks and stamped with Iced Spruce.

I'm entering this at:
  Penny Black and More - Make it Feminine
  Stamping Sensations - Something Beginning with B - Blooms, Bow and Blue

Just a short post today, need to get ahead with some DT projects now.

Have a great day.
Avril xx

It's Always Summer

A journal spread to join in with Yvonne's theme of A World of Fantasy over at Art Journal Journey.
I don't know about you, but most of my memories from childhood are of warm summer days, making daisy chains and watching butterflies.   Of course it's not true, we would have had rain, sleet, cold and miserable days, but they don't seem to feature in my little world!

So my pages features the fantasy of these days with blue skies, flowers and butterflies.

My image, butterflies and flowers were torn from napkins which came in some happy mail from Yvonne, so a good opportunity to use them on my summer sky background.

This page also fits our current challenge at Try it on Tuesday which is Childhood and you can find all the details for this here.

Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

Quote Away

The new challenge at Fashionable Stamping is 'Quote Away'  and we would love to see you using a quote not just a sentiment.  We are sponsored by Ink Art Design who are offering one lucky random winner a stamp from their online store.

For my card, I've a mop up background using Tyvek.  My quote is from Visible Image, stamped in Black Versafine.  The peony image is from Paperbabe, it's stamped onto water colour card and coloured with Distress Inks and fussy cut, along with some of the leaves from the set.

If you need some inspirations, the Design Team have some wonderful samples, so please pop over to the main blog, where you will also find all the details.

I am entering this at
         Craft Stamper Take it Make It - Anything Goes
        Simon Says Monday Challenge - Stamp on It

Thanks for calling in and have a great day,
Avril xx

All About Childhood

Hello,  well it's back to normal after a holiday away, which is just as well as there's a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and our theme this fortnight is Childhood.  

I've made a 'Starting School' card for DD's Goddaughter, but you could interpret this with childhood memories/nursery rhymes/fantasy stories or children's cards, it's up to you.

I stencilled an Oxide background with TH School House stencil and then used another piece to stamp my image which is from Artistic Outpost's Think and Wonder set.  I've also used an inky piece of card to die cut the TH Alphabet piece, backed with some navy paper, and added a  computer printed sentiment.

It's a good job this card was almost done before I went away, and now I just need to get Mr Mojo into gear and do some catching up!

Have a great day,
Avril xx

Take a Ride

Hello, it's time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this fortnight the theme is 'Take a Ride'
we would love to see how you would like to travel - bus/car/train/plane or in my case a sledge ride!

I've used the sledge from Tim Holtz Deco Christmas, stamped in Black Versafine, I tore a mask from copy paper and stamped one of the Tree Line stamps with Iced Spruce to create the scene for my 'journey'  I blended Stormy Sky and Chipped Sapphire for the sky and used gesso through the Speckles stencil for the falling snow.

I don't think I've ever made a Christmas card so early, but I've been dying to use this stamp since getting it in January!

The rest of the Design Team have some fabulous inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main blog where you will also find all the challenge details.

Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

Mother's Love

Hello,  since using family photos in my vintage journal I realised I hadn't used one of my Mum, I have some lovely photos of her as a young girl - by the date on the back she is 21 in this one.

I gessoed the page before adding the DecoArt Crackle paste through the Doily and Rose stencils.  Next, a watered down wash of PaperArtsy Concrete, then came some ink blending with Tattered rose, Frayed burlap and Vintage photo, before edging with Distress Crayons and rubbing back with a wet finger!  There's also some background stamping in Frayed Burlap.  I reapplied the rose stencil and coloured the rose with DIs, before finally adding the cut apart words from a TH stamp.

I am going to enter this over at Art Journal Journey, where Elizabeth and Bluebeard have chosen the theme of Count Your Blessings - well, I count my blessings for my Mother's love.

We've got thick cloud and very breezy weather today, feels very Autumnal -  think I want some sunshine back!
Have a great weekend
Avril xx

It's a Bugs Life at FSC

It's time for a new challenge at Fashionable Stamping and this time we would like to see 'Bugs'.  You can opt for creepy crawlies, butterflies, bees or dragonflies included.

I've used the Tim Holtz large butterfly from the Perspectives set, stamped fussy cut  and coloured with Distress inks.  I added Glossy Accents to the body.

I've been seeing lots of gorgeous cards using the new 3d embossing folders, which prompted me to use one of my old ones,  I've embossed black cardstock through a TH folder and then blended Shaded Lilac Oxide ink over the top.  I stamped 'Special'   from the Postal set of stamps with Shaded Lilac and clear embossed.  The layered sentiment is from Artistic Outpost.

The rest of the DT have some fabulous inspirations for you, so please pop over to the main blog where you will also find all the challenge details of our sponsor Ink Art Designs.

I am entering this at:
  Penny Black and More - I Spy Something Beginning with 'B'  - butterfly and black cardstock

Thanks for calling in, have a great day.
Avril xx

Pink Peony

Hello, a month or so ago I was lucky to win the challenge at PaperBabe and this peony is from the set of stamps that I chose as my prize.

I've stamped the flower and leaves onto watercolour card, fussy cut and coloured with Distress inks.
My background is a piece of textured card, gessoed and coloured with Distress crayons and the colours blended with a baby wipe. I stamped the Crafty Individuals background with Weathered Wood and Dusty Concord.

I'm entering this at:
  Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Distress it

It's quite cool here today, looks like our heatwave is over for now, so maybe normal service can resume in the craft room, my Alcohol Lift ink has just arrived, so I feel a little play is needed.

Avril xx

Inspired by a Song

Hello, it's time to tell you about the new challenge at Try it on Tuesday, this fortnight the theme is 'Inspired by a Song' and we'd love you to join in and tell us what song inspired your creation.

DD was needing some 'girly' birthday cards and as I'd just watched one of my favourite movies - Pretty Woman I used that song title as my inspiration.  I love this stamp and it's just a shame she hasn't got  a shopping bag as she's walking down the street.

My background is a Sheena Douglas stencil with a  TCW mini daisy, the sentiment is an old Hero Arts stamp, and the main image is from a Dyan Reaveley Couture set of stamps, paper pieced with some hand made paper.

The rest of the team have some great inspiration from songs, so please pop over to the main blog, where you will also find the challenge details.

Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

Favourite Stamp for Stamping Sensations

A couple of weeks ago I won over at Stamping Sensations and was asked if I'd like to be a Guest Designer and as it's one of my favourite challenges,  and with a theme of 'Use Your Favourite Current Stamp', well of course I said YES.

This is another DL card made with the Glorious Bouquet, I did think this stamp would take time to colour, but there's so much detail in the stamp itself, it really is quite simple.  This was coloured with DIs and very little shading was needed.

I made a rough cut mask which I used before stencilling with the Nordic stencil using Frayed Burlap, and then shading with Antique Linen DIs.  The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed with clear EP.

The DT have made some fabulous choices in their favourite stamps, so why not pop over to Stamping Sensations to have a look.

Thanks for calling in and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Avril xx

Wonderful Life

Hello and thanks for calling in,  it's all change here - 3 days of thunder and lightening, torrential rain and strong winds and it's very cold today but I'm not complaining too much.  I spent yesterday afternoon getting messy and some of it was a mess as I think my inspiration as gone AWOL!

So something simple, an inky background that was made a couple of weeks ago, teamed up with some die cut wildflowers and stamped one of my favourite TH quotes.

I'm entering this at Country View Crafts - In the Summer Garden (the sky in my garden looks like this)

Just a short post as I've been such a neglectful blogger lately and I really need to catch up and shame my inspiration to return.

Avril xx

Use Bookpaper

Hello, it's time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this fortnight the theme is Use Bookpaper,  as usual you can make anything you want, as long as you incorporate some book paper.

I've used neutral shades and a plain white base with a piece of vintage music paper, and book paper with flowers as the focus, a very simple card with very little inking.   The flowers are IndigoBlu and came with a freebie set in a magazine.

The rest of the DT have some great inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main blog, where you will also find all the challenge details.

I'm entering this at That's Crafty - Close to Nature

Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

Curiosity

I've been wanting to play along with Art Journal Journey this month as it's such a fun theme 'Art for Art's Sake chosen by Chris who say's  "it's all about having fun with techniques and supplies (especially if you have some you don't use often)"

I enrolled on Marjie Kemper's online course Inventive Ink a while ago and had so much fun playing with (bright) colours, something I don't do that often, so I thought that was a great starting point for this theme.

I've used mainly Tim Holtz stamps and stencils along with a TWC Mini Daisy stencil, all of which haven't seen ink for a while.  Something a bit different and it was good to get out of the comfort zone.

Avril xx

Perfect Moment

Hi and thanks for calling in, things have definitely been a bit quite around here - I blame all the sunshine we've been having, but as today has been overcast with a couple of heavy showers, I headed back to the craft desk.

I made the Distress Oxide background a while ago, my little girl, an image saved from the internet, was fussy cut before I  applied her.  I was lucky and won the last challenge at Stamping Sensations and received a voucher for Visible Image stamps and this is one of their sentiments, stamped with Black Versafine and heat embossed with clear EP.  Some die cut wildflowers to finish, a nice quick and easy card and flat for posting!

Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny again, so I'd better make the most of today's clouds!

Avril xx

Add a Quote

The new challenge this fortnight at Try it on Tuesday is 'Add a Quote'  -  but not just a one line sentiment.

For my card I've used the lovely Dancing Woman from Rubber Dance, stamped onto tissue paper as I didn't want the line frame this time.  I coloured her dress on the reverse with Snowflake paint before adding to an Oxide inked background, that was embossed with paste through the floral stencil.  I added the music flourish using Black Archival.  The sentiment, a Tim Holtz was stamped with black and heat embossed with Clear EP.  I've also added colour to the embossed flowers using Distress inks.

The rest of the DT have used some fabulous quotes, so please pop over to the main blog where you will also find all the challenge details.

Avril xx

Use Those Inks Anyway you want

It's time for a new challenge at Fashionable Stamping and this month it's 'Use your Inks Anyway you Want', but don't forget, we are a stamping challenge and there must be stamping as your focal point.

I've used part of the Glorious Bouquet stamp from Tim Holtz and used Distress Inks to colour.  The background is a very watery Oxide ink mix and the sentiments were stamped and heat set using clear EP.

We have Ink Art Designs as our sponsor and the prize is a stamp from the online shop.

The rest of the DT have some great inspirations for you, so please pop over to the main blog here where you will find all  the details.

I am entering this at -
   Stamping Sensations - In My Garden
  That's Crafty - Close to Nature
  Allsorts - In My Garden
  Country View Crafts - In the Summer Garden

Thanks for calling in, have a great day.
Avril xx

In the Garden

I seem to be in a bit of a floral mood lately - must bee all this hot weather keeping me in the garden, but it was a bit cooler yesterday, so  I had a  play with Tim's Flower Garden stamps,   I've used 2 sizes of the poppy, stamped onto watercolour card and coloured with a mix of Wilted Violet and Dusty Concord.
Inspiration has been a little slow with all this heat so I opted for an easy option and followed a recent tutorial by Jenny using Gesso and Oxide ink for the base of the card, I also blended on Frayed Burlap to give the panel a more aged look.   I also liked how she had used the Ornate Trims, and as I'd just bought these,  used that as a guide.   I then stamped a leaf section from the Glorious Bouquet in Forest Moss before adding some die cut Garden Greens.

I'm entering this at
   That's Crafty - Close to Nature
   Stamping Sensations - In My Garden
         

Avril xx

Things With Wings

Things with Wings is the new challenge at Try it on Tuesday this fortnight.  Lots of scope there - birds, bees, insects as well as my choice of butterfly.

I've had this silver box frame lying around for ages. so I gave it a couple of coats of gesso and then used the Tim Holtz Doily stencil on the top and sides.  When it was dry, I used my finger and rubbed Autumn Bronze Gilding Wax over the entire frame.

My butterfly and sentiment are from TH Perspective set of stamps, coloured with Distress Inks.  There's also a butterfly, stamped on vellum underneath, as the butterfly is only attached by the body.  The background is one of Astrid's freebie papers, which I've added some stencilling and background stamping to.  I've taken a photo before adding the glass and the 'space' between glass and frame was 'filled' with script tissue tape.

The rest of the DT have some great inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main blog for all the details.

I am entering this at:  Creative Artiste - Anything Mixed Media Goes


Avril xx

Inspired By

Hello and thanks for calling, today I'm sharing a page in my journal that was inspired by one of my 'special' visitors - 'my' Blackbird, and I'm sharing this over at Art Journal Journey, for Gill's theme of 'Inspsired By'

I've used torn napkin and stencilled flowers and leaves and my  blackbird is actually a photocopy from a napkin with a robin, I've reduced the size and copied it in black and fussy cut, adding a larger beak.                                                                                                                                                         

 Unfortunately, I get a lot of Wood pigeons coming into my garden and they are so greedy, so I           started to feed the smaller birds just outside the patio doors, yes they sometimes make a mess, but a   quick hose over the patio when I've watered the plants each evening  is fine by me.  However this one particular blackbird is so friendly and cheeky, that he looks in the window for me to feed him and as he's feeding chicks, this happens quite a lot.  He's usually sitting on the steps waiting for me when I open the curtains first thing on a morning!                                                                                                

I've added a couple of photos of this cheeky but cute bird (sorry about the reflection)

Hubby recons he gets better fed than him - suet and mealworm coconut, dried mealworms and suet pellets, I've offered to give hubby the same, but he said he didn't want to deprive the birds so he'll just stick to normal food!

Well I better go check whether there's a little visitor waiting for food.

Avril xx

Friends

Hi, and of you're benefiting from the 'mini heatwave' that was forecast, you're lucky, it hasn't reached my part of the country.  It's grey and there's a chilly wind blowing here, so I cheered myself up this afternoon with some crafty play (it was supposed to be a tidy up but I got side-tracked)
Anyhow, while adding to the bits box I came across this frame which was inside a card, I think it had had a photo of one of the children taken with Santa one Christmas time- and it just happened to almost fit this floral frame that I'd found on the internet, so I've fussy cut the top and bottom and just right!

To soften the grey frame I lightly blended Victorian Velvet around the edges.  I made a base card with Tattered Rose and stamped one of the Ornate Trims as a frame with Stormy Sky.  My two 'little friends' were attached with 3D tape and I triple embossed the sentiment with Clear EP.  I've cut and coloured some wildflowers and attached a stamped butterfly.

I suppose I did tidy up - that's two things used out of the bits box!

Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

Blue and Simple

Hello,  I've just been buying Tim Holtz's  Glorious Bouquet, well it was on 'sale' so I couldn't resist, and although it's a very large stamp, it inks up beautifully and is so detailed.  I was a bit dubious because of all the colouring, but it colours up a dream - that one's to come later.

This one is so simple, I stamped in Denim Adirondack added a sentiment and heat embossed with Clear EP, there's some feint stamped crackle done with Tumbled Glass, which isn't showing much in the photo, as I wanted the look of old porcelain.  I matted onto cardstock inked with the Denim to keep the shades the same and a white base card.  I don't usually do 'clean'  (most of the time because I usually get a grubby finger mark on white) but I think this one works.

I am entering this at
  Artistic Stamper - Colour it Blue
  Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
  Penny Black and More - In the Garden

Think you might be seeing a bit more of this stamp, but probably not so clean!

Have a great weekend,
Avril xx

Boys Will Be Boys

Boys will be Boys is the new theme for this fortnights challenge at Try it on Tuesday and as usual it's up to you what you make for those men in your life, also with Fathers Day just around the corner, it's also a good opportunity make a card if you haven't already.  I've gone with a masculine card that could suit lots of occasions depending on the sentiment which I will add later.

I started with a Kraft base and added some script and ledger stamping and added a couple of labels  and some stamped tickets.  My 'gent' is sitting on a suitcase that was cut from a paper napkin.  As he looked as if he's about to set off on his travels, I added the Sizzix mini Globe, cut from a textured silver card and coloured with Alcohol inks.

The rest of the team have some fabulous inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main blog to see and you will also find all the challenge details.

I am entering this at
  Country View Challenges - The Written Word (adding Text)
  Eclectic Ellapu - Anything Goes

Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

I do Like to be beside the Seaside!

It's time for a new challenge at Fashionable Stamping and this month the theme is  Seaside.  We have Ink Art Designs as our sponsor and the Random Winner will receive a stamp from the online shop, but remember you need to use 'real' stamping to qualify.

For my seaside piece I decided on a little 3D shadow box card.  A few weeks ago Autumn made a couple and gave a little tutorial on her blog, here.   I've adapted this to use my Bigz Cabinet card die to cut the frame.  I've used Crafty Individual stamps, attaching my sunbathing beauty on the second frame.

The rest of the DT have some great inspiration for you so please pop over here.

I'm entering this at Stamping Sensations  - Anything Goes

Thanks for calling in and I hope you have a great day.

Avril xx