Inspired By

Hello and thanks for calling, today I'm sharing a page in my journal that was inspired by one of my 'special' visitors - 'my' Blackbird, and I'm sharing this over at Art Journal Journey, for Gill's theme of 'Inspsired By'

I've used torn napkin and stencilled flowers and leaves and my  blackbird is actually a photocopy from a napkin with a robin, I've reduced the size and copied it in black and fussy cut, adding a larger beak.                                                                                                                                                         

 Unfortunately, I get a lot of Wood pigeons coming into my garden and they are so greedy, so I           started to feed the smaller birds just outside the patio doors, yes they sometimes make a mess, but a   quick hose over the patio when I've watered the plants each evening  is fine by me.  However this one particular blackbird is so friendly and cheeky, that he looks in the window for me to feed him and as he's feeding chicks, this happens quite a lot.  He's usually sitting on the steps waiting for me when I open the curtains first thing on a morning!                                                                                                

I've added a couple of photos of this cheeky but cute bird (sorry about the reflection)

Hubby recons he gets better fed than him - suet and mealworm coconut, dried mealworms and suet pellets, I've offered to give hubby the same, but he said he didn't want to deprive the birds so he'll just stick to normal food!

Well I better go check whether there's a little visitor waiting for food.

Avril xx

Friends

Hi, and of you're benefiting from the 'mini heatwave' that was forecast, you're lucky, it hasn't reached my part of the country.  It's grey and there's a chilly wind blowing here, so I cheered myself up this afternoon with some crafty play (it was supposed to be a tidy up but I got side-tracked)
Anyhow, while adding to the bits box I came across this frame which was inside a card, I think it had had a photo of one of the children taken with Santa one Christmas time- and it just happened to almost fit this floral frame that I'd found on the internet, so I've fussy cut the top and bottom and just right!

To soften the grey frame I lightly blended Victorian Velvet around the edges.  I made a base card with Tattered Rose and stamped one of the Ornate Trims as a frame with Stormy Sky.  My two 'little friends' were attached with 3D tape and I triple embossed the sentiment with Clear EP.  I've cut and coloured some wildflowers and attached a stamped butterfly.

I suppose I did tidy up - that's two things used out of the bits box!

Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

Blue and Simple

Hello,  I've just been buying Tim Holtz's  Glorious Bouquet, well it was on 'sale' so I couldn't resist, and although it's a very large stamp, it inks up beautifully and is so detailed.  I was a bit dubious because of all the colouring, but it colours up a dream - that one's to come later.

This one is so simple, I stamped in Denim Adirondack added a sentiment and heat embossed with Clear EP, there's some feint stamped crackle done with Tumbled Glass, which isn't showing much in the photo, as I wanted the look of old porcelain.  I matted onto cardstock inked with the Denim to keep the shades the same and a white base card.  I don't usually do 'clean'  (most of the time because I usually get a grubby finger mark on white) but I think this one works.

I am entering this at
  Artistic Stamper - Colour it Blue
  Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
  Penny Black and More - In the Garden

Think you might be seeing a bit more of this stamp, but probably not so clean!

Have a great weekend,
Avril xx

Boys Will Be Boys

Boys will be Boys is the new theme for this fortnights challenge at Try it on Tuesday and as usual it's up to you what you make for those men in your life, also with Fathers Day just around the corner, it's also a good opportunity make a card if you haven't already.  I've gone with a masculine card that could suit lots of occasions depending on the sentiment which I will add later.

I started with a Kraft base and added some script and ledger stamping and added a couple of labels  and some stamped tickets.  My 'gent' is sitting on a suitcase that was cut from a paper napkin.  As he looked as if he's about to set off on his travels, I added the Sizzix mini Globe, cut from a textured silver card and coloured with Alcohol inks.

The rest of the team have some fabulous inspiration for you, so please pop over to the main blog to see and you will also find all the challenge details.

I am entering this at
  Country View Challenges - The Written Word (adding Text)
  Eclectic Ellapu - Anything Goes

Thanks for calling in,
Avril xx

I do Like to be beside the Seaside!

It's time for a new challenge at Fashionable Stamping and this month the theme is  Seaside.  We have Ink Art Designs as our sponsor and the Random Winner will receive a stamp from the online shop, but remember you need to use 'real' stamping to qualify.

For my seaside piece I decided on a little 3D shadow box card.  A few weeks ago Autumn made a couple and gave a little tutorial on her blog, here.   I've adapted this to use my Bigz Cabinet card die to cut the frame.  I've used Crafty Individual stamps, attaching my sunbathing beauty on the second frame.

The rest of the DT have some great inspiration for you so please pop over here.

I'm entering this at Stamping Sensations  - Anything Goes

Thanks for calling in and I hope you have a great day.

Avril xx

Here's Looking at You!

Well, She's Certainly got the Look - which is my second piece to remind you that you still have one week left to join in our Challenge at Try it on Tuesday, pop over here for all the details.

Another journal page that started off with an Andy Skinner  Strike the Pose  stencil that I bought about 2 years ago and this is the first time I've used it.  I made a 'mask' to keep the face clean and although it looks White, I had added  Tattered Rose Distress spray stain to the page first.  Stamping and stencilling in the background topped off with flowers  from a TWC Kasia stencil and a Tim Holtz quote.

Watching folks journal from the sidelines and then taking the plunge, so to speak - I'm really enjoying this and from worrying if I was 'doing it right' I now realise it's just 'do it' and there's no 'right or wrong', so this really is a journal journey for me.  As my inspiration for this page is the current challenge at Try it on Tuesday I'm going to join in at Art Journal Journey where this month Gill is hosting the theme Inspired by.

I'm also entering at Country View Crafts - The Written Word

Thanks for calling in today,
Avril xx

Birdsong

Hello and Happy Sunday - even though it's a damp grey day here I've brightened my day with a journal page that I'm linking to Gill's theme of  'Inspired By' over at Art Journal Journey.

On Thursday, I'd looked with interest a this months new theme before going out into the garden and the first thing I noticed was how lovely the birdsong was on such a sunny morning, and I thought "perfect" my inspiration!

A light painty wash, torn napkins and the quote from Artistic Outpost's Serenity set of stamps along with a couple of music notes stamped randomly.

Thanks for calling in and enjoy your day.
Avril xx