Play Day Tag

Hello and thanks for your visit today.
A couple of weeks ago while doing a DT piece,  I took time out to play and make a few background tags with DecoArt Crackle paste and stencils and apart from using one for Elsie, they have sat in a little pile on my desk,  So today, with a couple of hours for a little play, I delved into the bits box and this is the result with  a few stamped tickets and film strip topped off with a Tim Holtz photoboth picture. My words for this romantic couple are from the TH 'Time is a Companion....' sentiment.
I am entering this at Country View Crafts - Crackle

After a lovely day, we've got a very wet evening - at least it's saved me one job today, no need to water the garden tonight!

Avril xx

Blots and Splashes at FSC

Hello, it's time for another challenge at Fashionable Stamping  and our theme this month is 'Blots and Splashes'  -   time for some fun.
We have Flonzcraft as our sponsor and they are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.
I used Frayed Burlap  DI and a script stamp from Inkylicious from my base layer with some inky 'splats' using a stamp from Artistic Outpost's Grunge Elements.  The top layer is the Papillion script from Tim  Holtz, stamped with Victorian Velvet DI, then heat set with Clear EP.  This was shaded with Milled  lavender, Frayed Burlap and Iced Spruce DIs, before 'splashing'  with some white Gesso.  To 'pretty' this up I added some Tiny Tattered Florals and a piece of Mixed Media die cut.  Beauty was cut from a TH sentiment.
It would be lovely if you could join us for this challenge, but remember, we are a stamping challenge and the stamping must follow the theme.  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:
Love to Create - Anything Mixed Media - Challenge 10
Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
Penny Black and More - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting, I do appreciate it.  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
Avril xx

Brrr.... It's Cold enough for snow!

Only kidding,  but I thought I'd share another Christmas card using the  Tim Holtz Snowman Blueprint sketch,  with a few extra silver embossed snowflakes.  I've used some very old papers, which I inked around the edges with Chipped sapphire and a piece of torn embossed greetings,letting the Merry Christmas show, this was also coloured with the C S ink.  A bit of muslin and a Tim Holtz Snowflake flurries die cut.  A  reasonably flat card, so perfect for posting.
I am entering this at:
  Country View Crafts -  The colour Blue
  Allsorts - Christmas
  Rubber Dance - Colour theme (I've picked Wintry Sky and Tis the Season)
  Penny Black and More - Anything Christmas

Thanks for visiting, I do appreciate it.
Avril xx

Vintage Flower Garden

Hello, hope you're all having a good weekend and enjoying a little bit of sunshine.
After a morning out in Durham with DH, I managed a couple of hours crafting yesterday, I'd wanted to have a try at using the Tim Holtz Flower Garden stamps in a vintage style. So after masking the stamped flower, I used one of the Distressed Damask stamps, and heat embossed with clear EP, next came the Papillion script, inked with Faded Jeans and 2nd generation stamping. The background was coloured with Tumbled Glass, Broken China and Faded Jeans DIs. My little butterfly was stamped with Faded jeans and layered up on the same image stamped on vellum.  The flower was then water coloured with Spun sugar and Peeled paint for the leaves. It's almost 'flat' apart from the pearl, so it's one to keep for the post!

I am entering this at:
  Allsorts - Share your favourite colour (I love all colours and I adore pink peony roses)
  Penny Black at Allsorts - Summer Flowers

I've been to a local Craft show this morning, I didn't need anything, just a couple of basics, but it was nice to meet up with a couple of crafty friends for coffee and a chat, but now, a late start to tidy up the mess I made yesterday so I can start again!
Avril xx

Catwalk Time

Hello,   I've been playing with the Runway Girls again, although I've only inked one up so far, but the same little lady was screaming out to be centre stage on this card.

Over at FSC, Shirley made a cascade side fold card for our 100th challenge which you can see here, and  she was also kind enough to provide a template and instructions for this design in her post here.                   

I couldn't wait to give it a try and this is my little version.

I stamped my lady on the front and 2 of  the pages, masked, and then stamped the Papillion script.  I used the TH Wildflower stencil, and the words are cut from an Inkylicious stamp.

A little Glamour Dust o finish, well, the Catwalk is all about the Glam!  This all folds flat and fits in a DL envelope. Thanks Shirley,  I will definitely be doing this design again.

I am entering this at: 

   Everybody Art Challenge - Multi Fold card                                                                                                      That Craft  Place - Layers                                                                                                                             Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes                                                                                                        

Thanks for your visit today, I do appreciate it.  Hope you have a good week.                                               

Avril,

Runway

New glasses and a little bit of crafting time with new stamps - what more could any girl ask!
This was going to be 'flat' for posting, but then I couldn't resist adding some flowers.  I've got a few 'girly' cards to make so you will be seeing more of these Runway stamps and maybe even some 'flat' ones.
As always, thank you for visiting.
Avril xx

Favourite Things at Try it on Tuesdays.

 Happy New Year to You, I hope you are recovered from all the festivities over the holidays and ready to enter our first Challenge of 2015 at Try it on Tuesdays, which is 'Favourite Things' - how good is that to get you motivated.
I was full of good intentions to get back to crafty ways straight after Christmas but a nasty cold left me feeling a bit sorry for myself for a few days, but the thought of using favourite things was a great help to finish my project for this weeks challenge.
As you probably know, I love Vintage and lots of my favourite things were used making this little wallet, which holds the memories of this young ladies  trip to Paris.

 I die cut the folder using the Tattered Doily, added some embossing paste through a script stencil, and then clear embossed the flower swirl before distressing with Bundled Sage, Tattered Rose, Dusty concord and Vintage Photo inks.

The inside was cut and scored to fit, clear embossed stamping and then distressed with the same inks
My images are mainly Oxford Impressions 'April in Paris' with a couple from Artistic Outpost and Crafty Individuals.  My rose is paper clay, the key and  heart made with UTEE in the Melt Pot.
If you pop over to the main blog, you will see what the DT have made with their favourite things and maybe you would like to enter this challenge and show us what's on your favourite list.

Thanks for your visit,

Avril xx

Christmas Tags at Fashionable Stamping

Hello, it really is like waiting for a bus around here - wait long enough and one eventually does turn up!
Anyhow, I'm here to tell you about the new challenge at Fashionable Stamping Challenge which is, yes you guessed - Christmas Tags. We have a wonderful sponsor, Flonzcraft, who are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.
I used the Tim Holtz holly stencil for my background, coloured with Forest Moss and Peeled Paint and Fired Brick for the berries.  While the stencil was still in place I stamped a script stamp over the leaves using Iced Spruce DI and then sprinkled Clear EP over and heat embossed for a lovely shine to the leaves, before colouring the rest of the tag, just a shame I covered most of it up! The main image is Tim Holtz 'Letter to Santa' stamped with Potting Soil Archival. I used Brushos to paint his suit.  Joy to the World and the Snowflake were both freebies from magazines.
It would be lovely if you could join us - we all need Christmas Tags and it's a good excuse to make a start, but remember we are a stamping challenge and you need to use real stamps and these must follow the theme, for all the details and some wonderful inspiration from the rest of the team pop over to the main blog.
I am entering this at:
  That's Crafty - Anything Vintage
  Artistic Stampers - Christmas is Coming
  Allsorts - Anything but a Card
  Vintage Stamping Challenge - Anything but a card
  Eclectic Ellapu - Leaves & Foliage
  Live & Love Crafts - Favourite Christmas Colour Combo (Red & Green)

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my canvas I loved making it, although I must say I did feel a bit out of my comfort zone showing it, so thank you.

That's it for now, enjoy your Sunday.
Avril xx

Something New at Fashionable Stamping

Hi Folks,

Its time for a new challenge at Fashionable Stamping and this time we would like to see something 'new'.
That can be a new technique or a new stamp or new 'whatever' and as long as you include some real stamping we'd love to see it.  We are again sponsored by Flonzcraft, and the random winner will receive a 20 gift certificate to spend in their online store.

It's another tag from me - and this time I have used  new stamps.  My main image - Gibson Lovers from Flonzcraft, and the crackle stamp in the background is IndigoBlu, the small clock is also new and cut from a Crafty Individuals image CI-279, before adding Glossy Accents. The Weathered Clock die cut was inked with Weathered Wood DI and then heat embossed with Clear EP.
My very talented teamies all have lovely 'new' things to show, so please pop over here to take a peek, you won't be disappointed.

I am entering this at:
  Crafty Calendar - Thing with Wings
  Southern Girls - Give it an upper cut and Punch it out
  Country View Crafts - Use a Diecut
  Crafts & Me - Vintage
  Bunny Zoe's - Wings
  Ali-Craft Blog - Open (Anything Goes)

Before I go, I would just like to say 'hello' to my new followers, its lovely to see you, and I hope you will continue to visit.
Hope you all have a lovely day, whatever you're doing.

Avril xx

Thank you for Chocolate!

                                        

Hope everyone had a great weekend, and 'Hello' to my new followers, its lovely to see new faces and I hope you continue to enjoy your visits here.

Our new sponsor at Fashionable Stamping Challenges is Flonzcraft, who do some fabulous vintage stamps, and as you know, I do like my vintage.  Our challenge at FSC this fortnight is 'Sentiment/Sentimental' and as this card has a sentiment, it might just give you the inspiration to join us.  My card today uses stamps from Darkroom door to create the scene and sentiment, background script is Tim Holtz.  My chocolate loving friends, is a Flonzcraft stamp, coloured with Promarkers and fussy cut, then mounted onto foam pads.  My flower and leaves are TH Tattered floral strip.
I have made this as a Thank You card for DD to give to a friend, for turning up with a box of chocolates and a bottle of wine, when boyfriend had to dash to Ireland due to family illness, (fortunately a full recovery was made).  I had intended printing the sentiment 'Thanks for being there' but the printer is playing up - so she will just have to write it!  Anyhow, I'm sure it will still fit the bill at Vintage Stamping  Challenge which is 'Thank you'.
I am also entering this at:
  Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbon
  Amusing Challenges - Anything Goes
  Craft your Passion- Add Text/Sentiment
  Make it Monday - Anything Goes


That's it for now, the sun is shining - lets hope it continues!

Avril xx

Embossing at Fashionable Stamping

Hi All,

The challenge at FSC this fortnight is Embossing - that can be Heat Embossing or Dry, or both, the choice is yours, and as we are a stamping challenge there should be at least one stamped image on your 'creation', and don't forget there is a prize from our lovely sponsor Marina of Cottage Crafts.
For my card I embossed a piece of co ordinations with the Tim Holtz Clocks EF and then rubbed Vintage Photo DI over the top.  I also embossed a scrap of brown with a script EF, but this time I sanded to show the cream core. I stamped the 3 Gents and the tag in Memento Rich Coco , then sponged with Vintage Photo.  The letters were cut out with my new Vintage Market Alphabet die ,(a great bargain from EBay)
stamped with the 'Time is a Companion' words and then Heat embossed with UTEE for a lovely glossy finish.  The clock was also heat embossed with UTEE.
We would love you to join us this fortnight, and if you should need any inspiration, there are some fabulous 'creations' from the rest of the Design Team, so please head over and take a look.

I am  entering this card in:
  Crafty Anns - Its a Man Thing
  Daring Card Makers - Tag You're It
  Bling It On - Monochrome
  Sparkles - Men Only
  Crafts & Me - Vintage
  Everybody Art - Card for a Man

Thats it for me - I'm off the the Sincerely Yours Papercraft Show at Gateshead International Stadium with my friend Diane, I'm meeting up with Caz and Meggymay my fellow teamies from FSC, its great that we three live in the NE and get the chance to meet up at craft shows.  Is anybody else going?

Enjoy your Sunday - whatever you're doing,
Avril xx

Red Dress

Hi All

What a change in the weather,although its still bright and sunny, its decidedly chilly here,  so no garden this afternoon - just a bit of organising in the craft room and sorting out some cards to take with me on Monday when I'm off to spend a few days with DD. 

I made this card a couple of weeks ago and I don't know how many times I have tried to take photos, the red just doesn't look right!  today's looks a bit better.  I have used Kanban Jasper Steampunk stamps, for the dress and coloured with Promarkers and red glitter.  I have stitched gold thread on the back of the dress, and gold embossed the cogs.  Crafty Individual Swirl, was stamped in Fired Brick DI, which as also used on the TH words and butterflies, which are coated with Glossy Accents, and a flower made from inked  book pages. Have had the paper for ages, its all gold and sparkly and looks lovely when the light catches it.

  I am entering this card in:

  Craft  Room Challenge - Sparkle Glitter/Shine
  Rainbow Lady's -  Butterflies
  Divas by Design - Use a Stamp
  Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

That's it for now, thanks for looking.  Hope you all have a good weekend.

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

Less Is More

Hi All,

Just a quick post tonight as I have just had a 'craft and natter' night with my friend Diane and I've  made this card for Less Is More, (sometimes I'm not this productive!)  so I need to enter it before I'm too late. I have missed the last few challenges due to lack of time and inspiration.  I think the hardest part of a LIM challenge is thinking what to do it with!

This weeks theme is  'neutral colours' and I have used one of the ladies from Crafty Individuals  CI322, she is stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa, then masked and I stamped a TH Flourish in the same ink. I used Promarkers Pastel Beige on her top.  The fabulous is a Hero Arts stamp and I masked off the rest of the birthday greeting.

Thats it for tonight, 

Avril xx