Merry Christmas

 Hi All, I'm slightly late, but I hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas. 

All My Best Wishes for the New Year

Avril xx 

Merry Christmas

 Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas and  a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Avril xx 

Fantasy Mid month at SS

It's mid way through our final challenge of the year at Stamping Sensations where our Theme is Fantasy, or you can follow the A/G option if you prefer and we have 2 prizes of Lavinia stamps  on offer.

I've used one of my SceneScapes Magic 2  backgrounds for my Star Gazing couple.  I've built up the surrounding area with Vine Branch, Silhouette Foliage Set and  Orchard Grass, all stamped in back Versafine.

The rest of the Design Team have some lovely samples to inspire you, so please pop over to the main challenge page to see to see what they've been up to.  Just remember to be eligible to win a prize, you must include some real stamping on your project.

Avril xx 

It's All About Santa at TioT

 Our last challenge of the year at Try it on Tuesday is  -   It's All About Santa.

I've used and older Tim Holtz stamp, I do love this Santa with his jolly expression, he's stamped onto some white card, then masked, before using Antique linen Distress spray to soften the background and then stamping a holly stamp in a couple of corners, colouring with Distress inks and pencils.  I've used a neglected Sizzix frame die to cut the image and matted onto some Christmas paper from a pad that's lost it's cover.

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

Avril xx

Fantasy at Stamping Sensations

The new challenge this month at Stamping Sensations is Fantasy and we have

Two prizes of  Lavina Stamps

I've made a Christmas card using 

Star stamped in black and then using the aperture of a mask to make the moon which was coloured with Colour box white pigment ink and then PanPastles The Tree Branch was stamped in black and I added the mini holly.  My magical background was a Scene-Scapes Spectrum with

 extra PanPastles added for a shimmering snow.

The rest of the Design Team have some lovely inspiration for you, so please visit the main challenge page

Thanks for calling in. 

Avril xx 

Snowflakes at Try it on Tuesday

 

Hello. I've got another piece of Snowflake inspiration for our current challenge at Try it on Tuesday.

This started out as a little play with some re- discovered Moon Glow Embossing Powders, I wasn't sure how the colours would turn out on the navy card, but I liked the sparkly pearl effect, so I decided to stamp the Winter cabin in black and painted the roof and surrounding snow with a little white gesso before adding some sparkle, I also coloured the cabin with pencils. I used the aperture part of a mask and use some sparkly white Pan Pastel to extend the little scene before sprinkling some Chunky white embossing enamel for the falling snow.

There's still another week left to join this challenge, so please visit the main challenge page for all the details.

Avril xx 

Christmas Wreath

It wouldn't be Christmas without at least one Christmas Wreath card!

I've used Lavinia Pinecone branch and mini Holly along with a second generation stamped Tim Holtz pine branch to build up the wreath.  The sentiment was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with gold EP.

Last day of November, I can't believe how fast this year has flown by, 

I am entering this over at Allsorts where the theme is Focal Sentiment (sorry, I've just seen it's entered an upside down picture - I'm away from home and only have my phone)

Avril xx 

 

Snowflakes at TioT

 Snowflakes is the new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and we would love to see your projects featuring them.

I've used Lavinia Snowflakes stamped with various Brilliance inks for a lovely pearlised finish,  I added the Lavinia  Christmas Joy tree, stamped and heat embossed with silver EP and coloured the baubles with Personal Impressions Glitter Glues. It really is quite sparkly, but as always it doesn't show in the photo.

The rest of the Design Team have some lovely Snowflake inspirations for you, so please visit the main challenge page where you will also find the full challenge details.

I've been in full Christmas mode whenever I've had the chance as I was thinking I'd have to buy, but I'm almost done now and after a crafty afternoon on Sunday with the twins, the now have a box full of cards too.  Lucy is very crafty and loves to use the stamp platform, and tells me exactly what she's doing - "light tapping with the ink and press down" she's so cute.

Avril xx 

Stamping Sensations Inspiration

It's mid way for our November challenge at Stamping Sensations where the theme is Christmas or if you prefer there's always A/G option.

Another Christmas card in the box was my option and another little snowy scene using Cardio Pine Panorama and the fence from Breezy Day, along with a couple of freebie pine trees and sentiment.  All shading was done with Distress inks and paper masks.

The rest of the Design Team have some wonderful makes to show, so please visit the main challenge page where you will also find details of the prizes on offer this month.  Just remember, to be eligible to win you must include real stamping on your entry.

I am entering this at We Love Stamping - Christmas  and Allsorts - Christmas Cards and Merry Little Christmas Challenge

Avril xx

Tag-along with a Snowman

I'm really making an effort to get a grip on the Christmas makes,  so my make for this months Tag-Along & ATCs challenge where the theme is Texture or A/G, had to be a Christmas tag.  

I stamped my cute snowman from Tim Holtz and used paper masks for the background. I stamped the falling snow with Versamark and heat embossed with White E P. The snowman was coloured with Intense pencils, I  fussy cut a little robin from some patterned paper as I always feel he needs something to look at.  On a recent tidy of the glitter draw I discovered some 'white fluffy stuff' which must have been bought ages ago, so a good coat of glue and a sprinkling of the 'fluffy stuff' was added to the bottom.

Well, at least somebody will have a tag on their Christmas present!

Entering this at We Love Stamping - Anything Christmas 

Must get a move on and get some more Christmas makes into the box.

Avril x

Getting Ready for Christmas at TioT

We're Getting Ready for Christmas at Try it on Tuesday and this was one of the first Christmas cards I made this year.  I've loved this little Robin from AAll&Create for a while, but he was always unavailable when I tried to order him, but earlier in the year I went to a craft show and there he was - and he was reduced!

I've used Lavinia's Berry Wreath and mini holly  around an inked circle, using Liquid Pearls on the berries.  My robin is coloured with Inktense pencils and  I've added some Wow White Puff on the branch along with some glitter along with lots of glitter in the branches, which of course doesn't show in the photo!

The rest of the DT have been making a start with their Christmas preparations, so please pop over to TioT's to see what they have been up to, and you'll also find all the challenge details.

I am entering this card at Allsorts - Christmas Cards and We Love Stamping - Anything Christmas

Thanks for calling, Avril xx 

 

Christmas - at Stamping Sensations

 

It's time for a new challenge at Stamping Sensations and this month it's Christmas.

I've eventually made a start on my cards,  and for this one I've used a Sweet Poppy stencil for the frame, inking up in Stormy Sky and Iced Spruce Distress ink, then masking off part of a Crafty Individuals stamp to fit inside.  The sentiment was a magazine freebie.

The rest of the Design Team have some lovely Christmas inspiration for you, so please visit the main challenge page where you will also find details of the prizes on offer this month. Don't forget you have to include some real stamping on your project to be eligible.

This is a different photo from what's on the blog, I'm afraid I was a bit behind last week -( Half-term Grandma duties!)  and I hadn't managed to take photos of the cards I've made so far, so apologies for any confusion.

Avril xx

Halloween at TioT

 It's time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this time it's Halloween.

I've used a Lavinia Scenescape paper, part of a recent win at We love Stamping challenge. My witch, cauldron, cat and owl are also from Lavinia and the branches are Inkylicious. There's lots of sparkle from the spells being brewed in the cauldron and sparkly spirits hiding in the trees, but if course you can't see in the photo.

The rest of the team have lots of spooky inspiration, so please pay a visit to the main challenge page for all the details.

Thanks for calling in,

Avril xx 

Mid month SS - Autumn

It's time for mid month inspiration for the current challenge at Stamping Sensations where this months theme is Autumn or you could always follow the A/G route if you prefer.  Don't forget, there's a £25 store voucher from Personal Impressions for 1 lucky random winner

Autumn and the changing colours of the leaves was my inspiration and I've used stamps from Lavinia to create my oak leaf wreath, along with a few acorns, which were fussy cut and layered  with 3d foam to give a bit of dimension.  All colouring was done with Distress inks.

Don't forget to pop over to the main challenge page where's there's a wonderful array of Autumnal inspiration for you, along with all the challenge details.

Hope you have a lovely weekend, I'm off Pumpkin picking with the twins today and then no doubt Grandad will probably get the pumpkin carving job!

Avril xx

 

Autumn Colours at TioT

 Our new challenge this fortnight at Try it on Tuesday is Autumn Colours, I love the colours of Autumn and the changing colours of the leaves on the trees, so took that as my inspiration.

It's a long time since I made a page in any of my journals, it had originally taken me a long time to get started, and it turned out to be something that I enjoyed and now something that I miss doing.  It's something I don't think I'm particularly good at, but then I think it's just 'personal art' and hopefully I'm among friends when I show it.

As I said, it's a long time since I did any and this page was already gessoed over random torn script.  I've used some neglected images, my lady was stamped onto tissue before adhering to the page, before  stencilling the training leaves and then adding already inked die cut leaves and stamping directly to page, the Autumn quote.

The rest of the Design Team have some glorious Autumn coloured inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main challenge page fort all the details.

Avril xx

Autumn at Stamping Sensations

It's time for a new challenge theme at Stamping Sensations and this month it's Autumn or you can always follow the Anything Goes option if you wish.

We have a prize of a £25 store voucher from Personal Impressions for one lucky winner.

                                      

For my card I've used Cardio Breezy Day and Distress Inks to colour the background, 

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

Thanks for calling in, Avril x 

Animals - Real or Imaginary at TioT

 The new challenge at Try it on Tuesday is all about Animals - real or imaginary. I've got a bit of both on here, rabbits are real, but my page definitely has an imaginary setting.

I'm sharing another page from my little fairy story book about the 4 little rabbits in fairyland that was made a for the twins.  All stamps are Lavinia and the background uses Distress inks. (I'm so pleased I took photos of the pages as this book has come in very handy when crafting time has been short)

The rest of the DT have some great inspirational samples to show, so pleased pop over to the main blog where you'll also find all the challenge details.

Again just a quick post, 

Avril x

He's A Cutie !

He might be late - but he's a little cutie - and I'm just about making it in time to enter the challenge at Tag-along (and ATCs) where the theme is Things With Wings.  

I'm not sure what brand this little guy is from as I've had him for years, but I do remember buying him in a 'bargain bin' at a local craft fair, there's 3 little guys on the sheet, but this one is definitely my favourite.  He was stamped onto a gel plate background and then stamped again onto spare white card and I fussy cut his body, coloured with Inktense pencils and added stickles to his head feathers.  The balloon is an Inkylicious stamp, stamped with Charming Pink and again rubbed with stickles with a hand drawn string.

Crafty time has been very limited these last few weeks since the twins started school and blogging has been very neglected, it shouldn't be as we only do 2 pick ups, but they do take 4 1/2 hrs as Laura lives just over half an hour away,  and we've been having weekend visits too.  I just need to get a new routine.  The twins are loving school - on her first day Lucy said it was 'Awesome' and Teddy said 'I've had too much fun'  Lets hope it continues.

Thanks for calling in,

Avril xx

CAS Mid month at Stamping Sensations

 

It's mid month inspiration time for the current challenge at Stamping Sensations where the theme is CAS or you can always follow the A/G option if you prefer.

I've used two very old wooden stamps, Lady of Fashion which is a Hobby Art stamp and 

the sentiment is  Hero Arts which was stamped with Versamark and embossed with WOW Red Tinsel EP.

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

Avril x 

Pretty Papers at TioT

The new challenge at Try it on Tuesday is Pretty Papers.   I don't know about you, but I have stacks of paper and it's something I just don't seem to use these days.   

After a good rummage I decided to use G45 Secret Garden papers which I've had for years,  I distressed all the edges and die cut the girl image, the key was fussy cut and mounted with 3D pads.

The rest of the DT have been using up their papers and have some great inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main challenge page for all the details.

Thanks for calling in, Avril x

 

CAS at Stamping Sensations

It's time for a new challenge at Stamping Sensations and this month the theme is CAS, or you can always go with the A/G option if you prefer.  This month there are  two prizes of stamps from Grafton Crafts, a well stocked bricks and mortar and on line shop offering fee p&p on all orders over £15, also 

there will be a few 'random surprise spot prizes' this month, announced mid post and end of month posts, but remember, to be eligible to win, you must include at lease one item of stamping on you project.

For my CAS option I've used an old Flonzecraft stamp of my two ladies and just minimal colouring with red.  The sentiment is computer generated.

The rest of the DT have some great samples to show, so please pop over to the main challenge page for all the details.

Avril x

Children at TioT

It's time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this fortnight It's All About Children.

I've made a very quick card using one of the Andy Skinner stamps on a gel plate background and just added a bit of colour to  the girls clothing. Stitched square dies for the image and matt and a simple sentiment.

The rest of the DT have some lovely inspiration for you, so please pop over to TioT's challenge page for all the details.

The twins start school tomorrow, I can't believe how quickly this has happened, they've been very excited, but I think there's a little apprehension creeping in now.  I'm just glad it won't be me leaving them on their first day!

Avril x

 

Bathing Belle

 I can't believe it's almost the end of August, where have the last few weeks gone - and very little time of that was spent in the craft room, although I did have a couple of hours the other day and managed to make this tag for the Tag-Along & ATCs challenge where the theme is Travel.

I've used an old Crafty Individuals stamp, I do love this lady with her parasol.  She was stamped, then masked while I stamped the beach huts, and of course I had to add a flock of seagulls.  All colouring was done with a mix of pencils and inks with some white gel pen for the waves of the sea.

I can't believe that the twins will be starting school in less than two weeks time, again where have the last four and a half years gone!

Have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend, Avril xx

Going Round in Circles at Try it on Tuesday

 Our new challenge a Try it on Tuesday is Circles - of any kind.

I think I'm pushing it a bit here with this card as they are only just over half circles, but there are lots of them.  It's a Crafty Individuals stamp embossed in gold EP. I've coloured the flowers with Inktense pencils and then used some very neglected  sparkling watercolour paints over the top, trying to add a bit more depth to the colours.  I really must try those Black Edition pencils that I've read about.

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

Thanks for calling in, Avril x 

Mid month Birds Bees and Butterflies at Stamping Sensations

It's mid month reminder time at Stamping Sensations for the current challenge which is Birds, Bees and Butterflies, or if you prefer you can always choose the Anything Goes option.  We have fabulous prizes this month for two lucky winners of Stamps and Stencil from Lavinia.  Just remember to  be eligible you must have at least one element of stamping on the front of your project.

For my card, I've used one of the  Sticker stencils 10 which was part of a recent win at We Love Stamping, this is the first time I've used one of these stencils and I'm pleased how it turned out, although I do think I could do with a little more practice.   The flowers, which were stamped with various Versafine Clair inks are Garden Poppy, Orchard Grass, Wild Flower, Fairy Catkins and I've used the butterflies and dragonfly from Fairy Bugs.

The rest of the DT have some great samples to show, so please pop over to the challenge page for all the details.

I am going to enter this at Allsorts - the theme is I Spy Something beginning with B - I know they're small but I think my Butterflies count, and  over at We Love Stamping their theme is Flowers.

Things are still very quiet in the craft room, although I do have a 'day off' today, hopefully I'll manage some 'me' time.

Avril xx

Summer at TioT

It's time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this time it's Summer - anything to do with Summer, so the choice is endless.

I've opted for Summer flowers and Roses always means Summer to me.  I've used Tim Holtz Lady Rose stamps, I don't think I've actually used the 'Lady' but I do love the rose sprays.  

I stamped the roses and a script stamp with Aged Mahogany DI as a background and then stamped the roses with  Morning Mist VF Clair and coloured with Inktense pencils adding some white highlights with a gel pen.  The sentiment was free with a magazine.

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

I am entering the challenge at We Love Stamping as their new theme is Flowers

and also at Beautiful Blossoms challenge Anything Floral.

I've not managed much crafting or blogging time these last couple of weeks - extra Grandma duties and a couple of 'separation days' so that the twins can enjoy one to one time with Mammy and Grandma.  Lucy loves to craft and we enjoyed 'crafty room' time where she got to use  Grandma's 'crafty things'

She was so absorbed in colouring that she didn't even realise that I'd taken a photo.

She's very good at colouring and stays within the lines, you can see the concentration on her face.

Thanks for calling in, Avril xx

 

Birds, Bees and Butterflies at Stamping Sensations

It's the first Sunday of the month and that means a new challenge at Stamping Sensations, and the optional theme this month is Birds, Bees and Butterflies and we have some fabulous prizes from Lavinia Stamps.  As always there's a A/G option too.

I've used Lavinia's Glow Flowers and Bumble and Hum stamped onto a Gel plate background, I've also added some Orchard Grass, which was stamped with Twisted Citron DI for a subtle effect  to the background.

I coloured the Glow flowers with various sparkly gel pens and Bumble & Hum were coloured with Inktense pencils.

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 - just remember, you must include some real stamping on the front of your project to be eligible.

Avril x

Make it Magical at TioT

It's time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this time it's Make it Magical.

I'm sharing another page from my little Fairy book about the four little rabbits.

I've used a combination of Lavinia stamps to build up the scene for my little fairy friends and all colouring was done with Distress inks.

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

Thanks for calling in, Avril xx
 

Mid month Summer Blooms at Stamping Sensations

 It's time for a mid month reminder for our challenge at Stamping Sensations, where the theme is Summer Blooms, or if you prefer, you can always go with the A/G option.  We have some fabulous prizes from AALL&Create for 2 Lucy Winners, just remember you must include some real stamping on the front of your project to be eligible to enter.

I've made a tag using the gorgeous  Bird of Paradise stamp from  Plant Your Dreams (#320)  I stamped the image first, then masked out the flower before inking my tag with Peacock Feathers DI.  I also used a circle mask to cover the flower allowing me to highlight the image.  I used embossing paste through the Lotza Dotz Stencil (#39).  It's difficult to tell by the photo, but the tag is mounted onto a black backing.

The rest of the team have some fabulous samples to show, so please pop over to the main blog for all the details.

I am going to enter this tag over at Tag-along (and ATCs) as it fits in with the In the Garden theme this month.

Also Beautiful Blossoms has a A/G Floral challenge and The Paper Funday has a A/G with a Fin with Stencils twist.

Avril xx

Enjoy the Flowers

 I hadn't made tags for quite a while - until I saw the new challenge  at Tag-along(and ATCs) and I've really enjoyed making them again,  AND as I won this gorgeous set of tag dies last month in the challenge, well,  I had to use them for my entry this month where the theme is In the Garden.

I've just bought one of the new Tracy Evans stamps - Bloom and Grow and I've used it here on a mop up background, stamping twice but masking out the middle flower.  I've coloured with Inktense pencils and a little white gel pen for highlights.  I also added a little pocket to the back of the tag as it will probably hold money or a gift voucher.

A short post as we're off to do the nursery pick up and a treat tea and ice cream in McDonalds - not for me though!

Avril xx

Summer Blooms at TioT

The new challenge at  Try it on Tuesday is Summer Blooms, so any project relating to Summer flowers

I've used an old Studio Light image but masked off the wording at the bottom, stamped in black on a leftover mop up sheet. It's watercoloured with Inktense pencils and  I've die cut the sentiment from leftover card that was used for the purple layer.

The rest of the DT have some gorgeous samples to show, so please pop over to the main challenge page, where you will find all the details.

Thanks for calling in.   Avril xx 

Summer Blooms at Stamping Sensations

The new challenge at Stamping Sensations this month is Summer Blooms or you can always opt for the Anything Goes option.  There are some fabulous prizes this month from AALL&Create.

For my card I've used AALL&Create 229 Blooming Field which was stamped onto watercolour card and coloured with Inktense pencils.  For a little background interest I've stenciled lightly with Milled Lavender Di

The rest of the team have some gorgeous samples to share, so please visit the main blog, where you will also find all the challenge details, just remember, you must include at least one stamped element on the front of your entry.

Thanks for calling in. Avril x 

 

Add Some Text at TioT

                                             

Our new challenge at Try it on Tuesday is Add Some Text and as long as it's not just one word or a greeting, we'd love to see you there.

I've made another fun tag, these are great to add to a bottle of wine when you give as a present or whatever.  I've have a couple of sets of 'wine' words that I've had for ages, they've lost their packaging, so I can't remember where they are from.  My lady is again a very old stamp from Flonzcraft.

After stamping my image I used a sticky mask to cover her and then splattered Salty Ocean Distress ink all over the tag and then stamped the words.

The rest of the DT have some great inspiration on using text on your projects, so please pop over to the main page for all the details.

As this tag is 'drink' related, I'm going to enter again at Tag-Along(and ATCs)

Thanks for calling in, Avril xx

Stamping Sensations mid month Our Furry friends

 

It's mid month inspiration time over at Stamping Sensations where the theme is Our Furry Friends, or if you prefer you can always go with the A/G option.

I'm showing another page from my little Fairy Journal which has little rabbits and a playful fox.

All the stamps I've used are from Lavinia and I've coloured the little scene using Distress inks and Inktense pencils.

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

Edited to add, this was a scheduled post due to a few days away, so unable to add any challenges, but I would like to enter over at We Love Stamping, where the theme is Nature, hope I'm not too late!

Thanks for calling in, Avril xx

Cheers!

Hello, this is something unusual, me posting when it's not a DT piece!

There's a fairly new challenge called Tag-Along (and ATC's) and although I did intend to join in last month....well it didn't happen.  This month the theme is 'Drinks' and as I have a few 'drinks' related stamps, I couldn't miss joining in.

My image is an old favourite from Stamps Happen, called "If only Men Could Read" (the words on the left hand side which I've masked off).  She was stamped, then masked off while I inked a stencil with Picked Raspberry DI, spritzed with water and randomly 'stamped' the background.  I've added the sentiment, which I've had for years and has lost it's packaging, using black ink and matted the tag onto black cardstock, and all it needed was a bottle of wine!

We've a week off while the twins are away on holiday, so we're making the most of it and having a few days away  next week - a much needed rest I can tell you.

Thanks for calling in, Avril xx

 

In the Garden at TioT

 

 The new challenge at Try it on Tuesday is In the Garden, a nice easy one.

I've used a Crafty Individuals stamp on a soft inky background and coloured the flowers and leaves with Inktense pencils. It's quite a large stamp and easily makes a 5"x7" card when you add a border.

The rest of the team have some lovely garden inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main challenge page for all the details.

Life has been a bit hectic lately, I've been doing extra Grandma duties as Laura has picked up extra work covering for holidays.  I don't mind - making the most of it really as they will be off to school in September. They're growing up fast, and had their Nursery Graduation photos taken last week!

As always, thanks for calling in, Avril xx 

Our Furry Friends at Stamping Sensations

 

The new challenge at Stamping Sensations is Our Furry Friends or there's always the Anything Goes option if you prefer.  We have a fabulous prize of 2 Penny Black stamps from Buddly Crafts for one lucky random winner and of course there's always our Top 3 Picks.

I've stamped up this sweet girl  and her dog from the Andy Skinner set of stamps that I bought earlier in the year, giving her an inky background scene by adding some grass stamps.  She's layered up on an inky mop up piece.

The rest of the Design Team have some wonderful inspirations for you, so please pop over to the main challenge page where you will find all the details.  Just don't forget, you must include some 'real' stamping on the from of your entry to be eligible.

Thanks for calling in, Avril xx

Things With Wings at TioT

Things with Wings is the new challenge at Try it on Tuesday this fortnight and I chose to ink up, for the first time, this' Rockin Robin' who's called  Geoff, that I got last Christmas from Crafty Individuals.

He was stamped onto white card, coloured and fussy cut before placing him on a brick stencilled background.  The photo isn't very good - and I've taken about a dozen, he's much brighter in real life.

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

Thanks for calling in, Avril xx

Mid Month Inspiration at Stamping Sensations.

It's Mid Month Inspiration time over at Stamping Sensations for our current challenge where the optional theme is Feminine.

For my make  I stamped the lady image onto white linen card, then stamped again onto an inky mop up scrap and fussy cut just the dress, which was added after colouring the original.  I've used an old favourite wooden stamp from Hero Arts for the sentiment and the flowers were fussy cut from a Crafty Individuals stamp CI599 and coloured with Intense pencils.  To make it extra Feminine, I added some small sequins to her dress.  Matted and layered up onto an 8" x 8" card base.

Please pop over to the main challenge page to see the gorgeous array of sample from the DT and also you'll find details of the prize from Grafton Crafts.

Avril xx

Keep it Simple at TioT

 The new challenge at Try it on Tuesday this fortnight is Keep it Simple.  

When I bought these Andy Skinner stamps I knew I wanted to use this pair to make pictures for the twins bedroom.  

I stamped onto watercolor paper and colored the image using Intense pencils and then both pictures were then given a watery background wash.  They look lovely framed sis by side.

The rest of the DT have some lovely samples to show, so please pop over to the main challenge page for all the details.

The craft room's been neglected this last week, we've been making the most of this gorgeous weather getting the garden ready for summer and lovely days out with the twins.  I keep wondering how long it will last.

Thanks for calling in. Avril xx 

Friends and Chocolate

It's time for a new challenge at Stamping Sensations and this month the theme is Feminine, or you can always go with the Anything Goes option if you wish.

I've used a very old IndigoBlu stamp Elsie, stamped in black onto white card and masked before adding my inky smooshed background and then a little stencilling for some interest.  After removing the masking fluid, she was coloured with distress inks.  The sentiment is DarkRoom Door.

The rest of the D.T have some wonderful Feminine samples to show so please pop over to the main challenge page where you will also find details of our prize from John Next Door Stamp and dies from Grafton Crafts.  Just remember you must included some actual stamping on your entry to be eligible to win.

Thanks for calling in, 

Avril xx

 

Deep in the Forrest at Try it on Tuesday

 

Deep in the Forest is the new challenge at Try it on Tuesday, so anything you'd expect to see in the forest.

I've used Lavinia's Scenescapes papers that I won recently at We Love Stamping, this is the first time I've used these papers to create a background and I must say I loved the colours.  I've used various Lavinia stamps to create the scene stamping in black and adding some white highlights with a gel pen.

I do hope that fox isn't looking at the pheasant and thinking he looks tasty - but as it's a magical scene I'm sure they are forest friends.

The rest of the DT have some fabulous inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main challenge page, where you'll also find all the challenge details.

Thanks for calling in, 

Avril xx

Mid month at Stamping Sensations

It's time for some mid month inspiration at Stamping Sensations where the option this time around is Birds, Animals, Flowers and Nature, and we have some fabulous prizes from Lavinia Stamps.

I've used Lavinia stamps Moss flowers, Woodland Fern leaves and two of the smaller stamps from the Flower Collection .   I began by shading around a circle mask and then stamping and masking off two of the Moss flowers to build up my little arrangement and then with the masks still in place stamped the fern leaves and the two flower elements. After removing the masks I coloured the flowers with Intense pencils.

The rest of the team have some fabulous samples to show, so please pop over to the main challenge page for all the details.

Thanks for calling in and I hope you have a lovely Easter weekend. Avril xx 

Oh So Sweet

 Oh so sweet is our new challenge at Try it on Tuesday this fortnight - a challenge with lots of options.

After seeing lots of fabulous cards  made with this set of Andy Skinner stamps, which were released last year and thinking- no I don't need any more stamps - yet. I gave in at Christmas but this is the first card I've made.  She's stamped on watercolour paper and coloured with watercolour paints.  I've used a mop up inky background for the base and stamped a different sentiment to the one included with the image.

The rest of the team have some lovely inspiration for you, so please pop over to TioT's and hopefully you might be tempted to join in the challenge.

Well, my week of catching up didn't go exactly as planned and I didn't manage all the blog visiting I'd intended but as usual Life Happens!

Anyhow, thanks for calling and we'll see what this week has in store.

Avril xx 

SS Nature /Flowers/Birds/Animals-( Lavinia)

It's the first Sunday of the new month and time for a new challenge at Stamping Sensations where the theme is Nature/Flowers/Birds/Animals or you can always go with Anything Goes, but remember your project must feature a stamped element on the front to be eligible to win one of the two fabulous prized of Lavinia stamps.

For my card I've used a Geli print background and some 'naughty artistic licence' to stamp Lavinia's Mae, but as I didn't want the beautiful fairy on my card, I masked the top flower and then stamped the flower heads plus a couple of extras onto white card, which were coloured and fussy cut.  After arranging them, I drew in 'extra' stalks and stamped the Orchard Grass.

The rest of the DT have followed the Nature theme, so please pop over to Stamping Sensations to see all the lovely creations, and you'll also find details of the fabulous prizes.

We've had a lot going on here which has left me with no crafting time, but I've got a week off while the twins are on holiday, so after a relaxing couple of days away, I hope to do some crafting and a good catch up at the latter end of the week.

Thanks for calling in, Avril xx