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