Ooops!

Hello, DD asked me to make a Halloween card for her God daughter who's now 4yr old, so nothing too scary!
As a fun take, I've used some artistic licence with the Tim Holtz crazy birds and turned them into apprentice Wizards.  Oh dear I think something went wrong -  their Witch 'teacher' has ended up in the Cauldon!

I made an inky background adding a cauldron printed from the internet,  and some hand drawn Witches/Wizards hats.

As a reminder, you still have one more week to enter our Halloween challenge at Try it on Tuesday and you can find all the details here.

Stay safe and don't talk to any birds wearing strange hats - you never know what might happen!

Avril xx

Dream Big

This months theme at Art Journal Journey is Dreams or Wishes chosen by Eileen.
We've just had a few days in the Lake District where the Autumn colours are making a lovely show, so, I took the colours as my starting point for this page.   The theme also meant I could use this neglected Rubber Stampede lady image, which I stamped onto tissue paper, I wonder what she's dreaming of?  As there's the vintage arched window in the background, I think it might be something romantic!

As I started making this page this afternoon I suddenly heard a  rattling noise - when I looked behind the blind at the window, I saw this small Tortoiseshell butterfly fluttering against the window, where it came from I don't know as we've been away all week.  I wasn't really sure what to do as we'd had a couple of showers but thought it was better off outside - it didn't take long for it to find the opened window.

On that note - hope you all have a good weekend.
Avril xx

Witches and Wizards/ Halloween

It's time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this fortnight we're gearing up for Halloween.

My charming lady is just emerging from her hideaway to start chasing those spiders away  before casting her spells.  My base card started off just plain black and I used Twisted Citron and Wilted Violet Oxide inks to created the gloomy backdrop for the arch.

We'd love to see your Halloween creations and the Design Team have some spookylicious  inspirations for you, so please pop over to the main blog to be suitably scared!

Avril xx

Leafy Bliss

I've missed the last couple of challenges at Tag Tuesday, so I was determined not to miss again, so with over a week to spare, here we are, my tag for the current theme of Autumn.

After colouring my tag with Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge and Seedless Preserve DIs, I sprayed the centre with water to remove some of the colour before stamping the sentiment, which was a magazine freebie.  The leaves, from the same set, were stamped with a mix of Rusty Hinge, Ground Espresso and Forest Moss DIs.

This also fits the current challenge at Stamping Sensations which is  Trees and/or Leaves and/ or Autumn.

Have a great weekend

Pink Bouquet

The card box is getting quite low, so some fairly quick cards are needed and although fussy cutting isn't necessarily quick, these were already stamped and cut - just waiting to be coloured.

I smeared Iced Spruce DI onto my Craft mat and spritzed with water before dipping just half of the card into it, when dry I did the same for the other side with Spun Sugar which just gave a hint of colour.  I used the leftover drops to add splatters.  For a little background detail some second generation stamping before arranging the flower heads and drawing in some stems.  I will add a greeting  later as it could be suitable for a couple occasions.

I am entering this at
   Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge - Anything Goes + Option of Botanical
   Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Avril xx

Make a Wish

Hello,  it's been a horrible wet miserable day, but I don't really mind as it gave me the opportunity to have a much needed afternoon in my little craft room.  I needed to ink and  have another play with these stamps, this time to create a birthday card as the little box was rather depleted after all the recent birthdays.
I started with an Oxide sprayed background using only Antique linen, and adding a couple of splats from the nozzle.  I then stamped the image a couple of times on white card and fussy cut various layers, coloured with Distress inks and layered up using foam pads.

Not my usual style, it looks very 'clean' and I don't normally do a lot of precise image colouring,  but sometimes it's good to get out of the norm!

Have a good weekend,
Avril xx

Animal Magic

Hello, it's Tuesday and that means it's time for a new challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this fortnight the theme is Animal Magic, lots of scope there as long as you include an animal in your project

I think my page should have been called Animal Mayhem!   I've used one of the Crazy Cats on a stencilled background and printed out the words, which are quite apt for this little character

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

Have a great day, I'm out for another girly lunch to celebrate the last of the September birthdays  (there's been 4 and a day out with friends in York - with a rather long lunch as it was torrential rain. I think the diet starts tomorrow!)

Avril xx