Guest Designer at Allsorts

 I was really pleased to be asked to be a Guest Designer at Allsorts challenge blog where the theme this week is Butterflies.

One of my favourite butterfly stamps is this gorgeous Swallowtail from Tim Holtz, and as it hasn't been inked up for a while, was an obvious choice, I've also used a favourite background stamp from Crafty Individuals, and a mix of Abandoned Coral and Spiced Marmalade for the background.

The team at Allsorts have some gorgeous inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main challenge, where you will also find all their challenge details.

Thanks for calling in and I hope you have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend, the twins are having a sleepover tonight - I just hope I don't get woken up at 5.30 in the morning with shouts of  'Grandma we've had a lovely sleep'  like last time!

Avril x

Let's Go Outside at Try it on Tuesday

The new challenge this fortnight at Try it on Tuesday is  Let's Go Outside, so it's anything you see, do or hear outside - lots of choice there.

I love being outside and I've mentioned before that I live on the edge of woodland and frequently see rabbits and mice on my walks, we have a hedgehog who calls in for a 'snack' on his/her nightly travels  and one thing I hear most nights is the owl.  A few years ago on a holiday in the Lake District we actually saw an owl in the daytime, I felt very privileged.

I decided to use 'Gus' the owl for my card, I love his expression as he sits on his branch,  I've used Distress inks quite lightly for the background to create an early morning feel.

The rest of the DT have lots of different interpretations for this theme, so please pop over to the main blog where you will find all the challenge details.

The craft room has been rather quiet this week due to Covid19 making an unwanted appearance, so take care and stay safe.

Avril xx

 

Stamping Sensations Mid Month Inspiration

It's time for some mid month inspiration at Stamping Sensations where this month the challenge option is a Summer Mood board

I've picked the Blue/yellow colour theme along with the dog in the hat and used one of the Crazy dogs, which was fussy cut and given a hat from another stamp set.  I've placed him on a Gelli plate background.  I've added a cut apart quote, I'm not sure who the maker is as it was borrowed and stamped on a play day with my crafty friend - it's like having twice the stash when you have a crafty friend!

The rest of the Design Team have some great samples to share, so please pop over to the main blog where you will also find details of the two prizes from Craft Stash.

Thanks for calling in,

Avril xx

 

 I've actually had some productive play time while the twins were away and took time out to play some more with my Gelli plate, which I've had for a while, but never been that pleased with the results, till recently, again I've used my new Elements inks and must say I like the results, although I've still got a long way to go  with experimenting.  Now I need to use up my little stack of backgrounds.

This was another of my 'first tries' -  my Gelli plate is a 4" sq and I wanted to try and make it more versatile, so I used a die to cut a circle from a 5"x5" square card  and used the negative to mask the edges of the gelli plate  before I inked, removing it before I took my print and I'm quite pleased with the 'circle' result.

I used Lavinia's Glow Flowers, again stamped on a play day with crafty friend and I've used glitter gel pens to colour, so there's quite a bit of sparkle, not something I do a lot of.  Although another CAS card, similar to one a couple of weeks ago where I die cut a circle from the square, this just gives another option.

Thanks for calling in,

Avril xx

Sing A Song

 The new challenge at Try it on Tuesday this fortnight is Sing a Song, so that's anything music inspired.

I've used a background made with my new Elements inks splashed with water on a Gelli plate.  My main image is an old Flonzcraft stamp along with some music themed freebie stamps.

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

We're having a few days off this week as the twins and family are visiting relations, so we're making the most of it with a few days away.  I'm also hoping to get some blogging time and maybe post something. besides DT stuff.

Have a great day,

Avril xx

Summer Mood Board at Stamping Sensations

 

It's time for a new challenge at Stamping Sensations and this month there's a Summer Mood board option and there are two prizes this month from CraftStash for lucky random winners.

I chose the blue/yellow theme from the mood board, and as I'd had a 'little' spend with some birthday money recently and bought some Elements inks, this was my first play with Lime Punch and Blue Attol on the Gelli plate, which was also generously splattered with water.  I then stamped the dandelions, adding some gold stickles to the flower heads.

The rest of the team have some great takes on the Mood Board, so please pop over to the main challenge blog for all the details.

Have a great day, Avril xx