Winter in Paris at FSC

Hello,  it's time for a new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping  and this time it's Winter in  Paris.  We have Flonzcraft as our sponsor who are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.
I've used a Sheena Douglas stencil for my background and coloured the background with Distress Inks.
My lady and lamppost are both Clarity stamps and the lady has an extra layer to keep her warm - I paper pieced her coat which had been clear embossed to give a bit more detail.  For the wintry look to Paris I added some  Flower soft  in Polar White and of course my Eiffel Tower had to have the night time sparkle with some fine glitter, which doesn't show in the photo.

It would be lovely if you could join us for this challenge, but remember, we are a stamping challenge so must see the stamping as your focal point and if you need some inspiration, the rest of the DT have come up with some amazing ideas, so please pop over to the main blog.

I am entering this at:
  That's Crafty - Tag You're It
  Natalie and Amy's  - WinterScenes
  Crafty Catz - Winter

That's all from me, apart from to say, if you popped in earlier for the details and found a blank page....somehow, I seen to have lost the last week - I thought the challenge was next Sunday, silly me!

Have a great day,
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

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

Music at TioT

Time for another challenge at Try it on Tuesdays and this time we would like to see Music on your creations.
I have used Clarity's  'La Petite Musique'  for my main image, I cut a mask and and then randomly stamped the Honeysuckle corner over the top half of the image. Co-ordinations paper was embossed with a music folder and then some music tissue papers was added under the flowers.  The little corners, are Cut from white card with a Cuttlebug die, then heat embossed using Moon Glow EPs. for a lovely metallic look.

The rest of the design team have some wonderful inspiration, so please pop over here to take a look.

I am entering this at:
  Die Cut Divas - Lets Emboss it
  Natalie & Amys - Flowers
  The Vintage Challenge - Stitching - Real or Faux(mines real)

Thanks for looking,

Avril xx

GD at Crafting Musketeers

A few weeks ago I won over at Crafting Musketeers challenge and they kindly invited me to do a GD spot for this challenge which is Pretty Pastels.
I have used the Clarity La Petite Musique,  which was coloured with Promarkers and DIs for the background shading. I have also used some gorgeous old papers  (you know they type,  you stroke them and put them back for another day - can't even remember what they are now).  The music script is LOTV, and the beautiful lace was part of the fabulous goodies  I received as my prize from Crafting Musketeers.  The flower  was cut with a Joycrafts die.

I am entering this at
  Daring Card makers - colour challenge
  Vintage Stamping Challenge - Feminine Beauty
  Sugar Creek Hollow - Anything Vintage
  The Hobby House - Pearls


I hope you all have a great weekend whatever you're doing, but before I go, I would like to say 'hello' to my newest follower, it's great that you  want to join me on my crafting journey, and I hope you will continue to visit often.

Avril xx

Just because

I missed the GNP show at Harrogate a couple of weeks ago due to a prior commitment -  The Wedding - so I had a  little online spend.  Clarity Stamps had free postage last month so one of my little treats was this - La Petite Musique and I finally got to ink her up this week. I used Promarkers to colour and Distress Inks for her background.   Mr 'M' was a bit of a slow starter this week, so while I was waiting, I coloured up a few of these images, something I haven't done in a while, so you might be seeing this little lady again soon.
I am entering this at:
  Vintage Stamping Challenge - Feminine Beauty
  Crafty Cardmakers - Shabby/Chic
  Rhedd and Rosie Challenge - Anything Goes
  Crafty Hands Challenge - Anything Goes

DD and 'new' SIL came for tea and a lovely catch up, sounds like they had a fabulous time in Mexico, but they're back to the real world and work today.  It looks like we're in for some stormy weather over the weekend - great for crafting - so I might just have to have a little 'play'!

Thanks for visiting, I really do appreciate it.

Avril xx

Its all in the Greens at LIM

Hi all,

I have given myself the Day Off - not that its been quite a full day!  But managed to make by card for this weeks Less Is More Challenge - which is 3 shades of Green.

I have used the large Clarity Swirl and inked it with Distress Inks Forest Moss, Peeled Paint and Bundled Sage.  The sentiment from Inkylicious was inked with Forest Moss.
It is stamped onto a white card, and although I have taken quite a few photos, they all look as if its shaded with pink?
Once again, I'm late with this challenge, but at least this week I'm there!
  I am also entering  Freshly Brewed - Frenship (verse)

That's it for now, off to play for the rest of the day!

Avril xx

A Lady's Perogative to be Late!

Hi All,

Yes, its a Lady's prerogative to be late and this Sketchy Lady from Clarity Stamps is no exception!(Well I have to blame someone for my constant lateness in entering LIM challenges.)
The challenge this week is 'Masking' and I have masked 'the lady' and then stamped and clear embossed the background stamp from the Tim Holtz Papillon set,  (I love this set and was lucky a few weeks ago to win over at Through the Craftroom Door and this was my pick.)  I sponged Milled Lavender DI over the background and the lady is coloured with Promarkers. 
I am also entering this card in
  Papercrafting Journey - Pastels
  Crafts & Me - Spring colours
  Little Red Waggon - CAS
  Scrapbook Sisters - Anything Goes

That's it for now, and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Temptation!!!

Hi All,

Just a quick post to show a card made earlier in the week using my new Darkroom Door 'Chocolatier' stamps, this time with the Clarity 'Velvet Lady' stamp.  Lady was masked and then the Chocolate shop stamped twice, I thought this looked as if she was trying to resist the temptation to cross the road!
I love the little sentiments.  The background is sponged with Vintage Photo after stamping with a Crafty Individuals swirl.

I am entering this card in:
  Try It On Tuesdays - A card - but with all your own work
  Gingersnap Creations - Use a set of stamps
  Little Miss Muffet - Anything New
  Freshly Brewed - Something New
  Inky Impressions - Anything Goes
  Simon Says Stamps - Something New
  Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes with option of new (stamps)

That's it for now - hope you like it - and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - A Tag

Well Girls, its that time again for my little walk down the catwalk at Fashionable Stamping  Challenges.  The theme this time is a 'Tag' - and you should have a look at the fabulous tags the other DT members have made for your inspiration.
I haven't ventured into the world of tags previously, yes I have added a tag to a card, but that seemed different to actually making a stand alone tag, but really, once I started, it was just like adding all the bits to a smaller card,  don't know why I haven't done this before!
For my tag I used an ordinary postage label, stamped the Eiffel Tower,  masked it and stamped the Post card, both from the Royal Langnickel French Travel stamp set. I drew a line and stamped Hero Arts French Writing to one side of this before removing the mask. The little Paris tag, from the same set, was stamped onto spare card and I added an eyelet. These were all sponged with DI inks Vintage Photo and Tatted Rose. I used Clarity's Sketchy  Lady and stamped her onto spare card, paper pieced her dress and hat and just coloured her skin, I added foam pads just to 'lift' her. The swirl  was sponged with Vintage Photo and is cut from  a Marianne die. To finish I added a scrunched flower and pale blue organza ribbon.
Well I hope you like my 'little number'  and are tempted to  pop over and browse the inspirations on the catwalk of Fashionable Stamping Challenges. I hope you join us this time as there is a fabulous prize on offer from out sponsor Marina from Cottage Crafts.

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:
  Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
  Challeng up Your Life - Paper Piecing
  Allsorts - Flowers & Swirls
  Just Us Girls - Text
  Addictied to Stamps - Anything but a Card
  Paperplay - 2 or more stamped images

Thats it for now, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Avril xx

Less Is More or How to Look Good Naked!

Its week     over at Less is More and the Challenge is One Layer Card - the theme is 'Something with Legs'

I have followed this challenge since week 1 although I didn't have the 'courage' to join in at first.  Its out of my comfort zone, I like to embellish, I do cute, girly, frilly but not really CAS.  You girls who enter this challenge do some amazing cards and I always think 'how stylish', and I always debate each week on which stamp or whatever is needed and spend ages doing my cards - half of them end up in the bin, or are recycled into something more 'me' at a later date.  I hope there is someone out there reading this who has felt the same. Last week I even thought of suggesting to Chrissy and Mandy that they should change the challenge name to 'HOW TO LOOK GOOD NAKED' cause thats what it feels like to me! (I wish I had watched the programme - it might have helped).

So this week - I have just gone for it - (easy theme might have helped) .  Idea - Do It - Post, no messing about, if its not right, its my interpretation - no angst, cause I think the problem is really my lack of confidence with CAS. So now that its said, I might 'embrace' this challenge and try to enjoy being 'naked'!

I have used the Clarity stamp - Sketchy Lady, masked, and stamped the Eiffel Tower.  She is coloured with Promarkers.  I couldn't leave it ALL White, so have gone for a subtle chalked sky and grass.  The sentiment is Hero Arts (you might have already seen it - its my favourite)

Wow-  What a long post - If you are still with me Thanks for listening, and I do appreciate all your comments and the confidence you are giving me with CAS - Thank You.

I am also entering this card in a Aud Sentiments Challenge - More than Two Words

I hope to be back later with some 'embellished' cards that I made yesterday - we had heavy showers all day yesterday, so a good day for crafting!

Thanks for looking,

Avril xx

New Favourite Stamp

I am really liking this stamp. I put these bits together last night and its a completely different look!
This time I stamped on white and then masked the corset, and then stamped over using Hero Arts Old French Writing. I added black Glamour Dust to the top and hem and used red embroidery thread for the lacing. Matted onto black and red and a red punched strip, which I think looks a bit like a 'garter' or is that just my imagination!
Some challenges for my card:
Wild Orchid - Dieing to Punch
Allsorts - Special Lady
Craft Your Days Away - Special Lady
Crafts & Me - Anything Goes
Simply Create - Do it yourself - I did this myself!
Crafty Creations - In Stitches
Stamping for the Weekend - Mothers Day

Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Avril x

Clarity's Corset!

This is one of the Clarity stamps that I bought at the Papercrafts show, I have wanted this stamp for ages. This is my first finished card using this stamp, and I stamped the image with Distress Ink(forgot to get a new Versafine) and then heat embossed using a Stewart Gill Marcasite Embossing Powder which just gives a little black sparkle, but doesn't show in the photo. I cross stitched the 'ties' on the back of the corset before matting on black.

I am entering this card in the following challenges
Simon Says - Mothers Day/Girly
ABC - Sewing
Lets Ink it Up - Punches
Papertake Weekly - Girly
OohLaLa - Mothers Day/Special
Thats it for now - need to put some 'bits & bobs'from the play day together and make a card!

Thanks for looking

Avril x

Sketchy Lady card.

Wow, I have just realised I came 3rd in the Sarah Hurley Challenge for the 4 legged friends with my House Mouse step card!!


This is a card I made on my 'play day' last week, I can't take all the credit though! I was inspired by a card on Shirls blog a couple of months ago using this stamp and she had made her own postcard, (hers was pink and mine is green). I have used Clarity' Sketchy Lady and the postcard and tag are from an unmounted travel set by Royal Langnickel The paper is from Craftwork Cards(bought at Harrogate last September). I printed the sentiment on the comp.

I am entering this card in the following challenges
Creative Card Crew - Green
Pixie Cottage - Green
Papertake Weekly - Trio of Things - 3 pearls
Sentimental Sundays - Green
Daring Cardmakers - Postal

Well thats 2 posts in 1 day!

Thanks for looking, and if you like what you see, please pop back.

Avril x

RED!!

I seem to have had a busy week - don't really know where the time has gone, but the week has just disappeared! But one thing I did do was make a card for a friend whose favourite colour is 'red'. I like red, but its a colour I don't really wear, apart from red gloves and a red bag. My friend Jean looks great in red and has quite a lot in her wardrobe - hence the red card.

I have used 5 Clarity stamps on this card - Velvet Lady, Lamppost, Moon shadow and a corner stamp for the steps and building in the background of the image. I paper pieced the ladies coat and used a lot of chalk for the background. The card base is the Clarity swirl, stamped and heat embossed with gold directly onto the red card stock.

I am entering this card into Crafts & Me challenge which is Red.
Also By the Cute & Girly challenge is 'Red is all around us', so I am entering it there.

Have promised myself a 'crafty night', must get my House Mouse challenge card made!

Thanks for looking, and if you like what you see, please pop back.

Avril x