Happy Birthday

Good morning all. It seems to have been a short week...not sure I'm ready for the New Year yet! We're off out to the neighbours for drinks and nibbles this afternoon.

Hope everyone is well and dry...my heart goes out to those affected by all the flooding. 

I've been having a break from blogging and spent the time getting organised for our trip to New Zealand. The last couple of days have been spent trying to get ahead with the cards needed whilst we're away. This one is for hubby's cousins daughter who is 18 next month.

Still using up my stock of Kanban card. Stitched square die from Lawn Fawn, I got two sets of these for Christmas! Happy die and stamps are from Whimsy Stamps.

Challenges entered:

Crafty Creations - anything goes

Crafty Gals Corner - anything goes

The Crafty Addicts - anything goes/celebration

Creative Card Crew - anything goes

Deep Ocean - anything goes

Tuesday Throwdown - anything goes

Wishing you all a happy and safe Hogmanay. May 2016 bring health and happiness...and lots of crafting to you all. xx

Happy Birthday

Good morning all.

Had a lovely lunch yesterday with Mum, my brother and sisters and three of my nephews.  Indian for tea so I had a completely lazy day!

An unshared birthday card to show today, found languishing in the files.

Made with the free papers from the Quick Cards Made Easy magazine I was featured in earlier this year. Dies from Spellbinders, sequins and ribbon from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Creative Card Crew - anything goes

Deep Ocean - anything goes

Allsorts - anything but Christmas

That's Crafty - anything goes

Creative Knockouts - winged wonders

Stencil Sunday #25

Good evening all.....oops senior moment this should post at 9am Pacific Time not GMT!!!

Feeling mighty upset this weekend as blogger seems to be eating my followers...10 have disappeared over the course of the weekend! Hope I've not upset anyone! I'm guessing it's just blogger doing a Christmas clear out!

My turn to provide some Stencil Sunday inspiration over at STAMPlorations today. I have some journal pages to show you....having finally got around to playing again, I have several months missing that I need to catch up on.

As often happens when crafting these pages didn't quite turn out as planned!! I had hoped to use a shaped silicon mould as a gelli plate and do some layered printing as seen in the top right hand corner but it didn't work too well so I changed my tack. Trees have been stencilled with transparent texture paste then inked with DI once dry. Holly and stars are stencilled direct to page. Stamping is all done with Archival inks.

Items used:

ARTlorations: Oh My Stars, Holly Background and Christmas Trees stencils

STAMPlorations: Partytime, Heaven Sent, Noteworthy, Believe, Discover, Mini Mixed Media Backgrounds, Vignette: Christmas Block, Mixed Media Grunge and Mixed Media Elelments

And the December Mixed Media Challenge runs until the end of the month! If you want to play, you still have a few days left to get messy and share your non-card mixed media projects. It's anything mixed media goes except a card...and you must use a stencil (any brand or even a homemade one!) in your project(s). For the complete challenge info + prizes, click here.

Challenges entered:
Creative Artiste - anything mixed media
Inspiration Destination - anything goes
We Love 2 Create - anything creative/mixed media goes

Happy Anniversary

Good morning all.

A little change today...I'm sharing the anniversary card made for my sister and her husband who celebrate their 2nd Anniversary today.

Images from Unity Stamps; anniversary die from Cheery Lynn Designs; Happy from Whimsy Stamps. Square dies from Spellbinders.

Challenges entered:

Crafting by Designs - anything goes

Crafty Gals Corner - anything goes

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

The Crafty Addicts - anything goes celebration

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop - day five

Good afternoon all.

A reminder! We're on day five of the blog hop, our final day...come and join in the fun.

Prizes:

• FIVE (5) winners will receive their choice of ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the designers' blogs.
• ONE (1) winner will receive a $15 gift certificate OR her choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog.

Extra prizes for those who participate in the Flash Stencil Project Linky Party and link up by December 13:

• TWO (2) winners whose projects feature stencils (any brand) will each receive their choice of one (1) ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7)
• ONE (1) winner whose project features an ARTplorations stencil will receive her choice of three (3) ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7) OR a $15 gift certificate to the shop.

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to today's projects here.

I've got a card to share today.

I used the ARTploration Christmas Reindeer stencil with transparent texture paste then covered it with gold metal magic and heat embossed once dry.....I love the testured finish you get.  Simply matted and layered with Spellbinder dies. Sentiment from STAMPloration Holiday Artsy set, stamped on vellum and heat embossed. Brads from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Mixed Media Card Challenge - celebration opt vellum

Creative Artiste - anything mixed media

Anything but Cute Mixed Media - happy mail

Allsorts - golden days

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop - day four

Good evening all.

My turn today to show a tutorial over on the ARTplorations blog, this month I'm showing how you can extend your stencils to cover a larger area.

I've recycled a box, I hope you like the results.

A reminder! We're on day four of the blog hop...come and join in the fun.

Prizes:

• FIVE (5) winners will receive their choice of ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the designers' blogs.
• ONE (1) winner will receive a $15 gift certificate OR her choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog.

Extra prizes for those who participate in the Flash Stencil Project Linky Party and link up by December 13: 

• TWO (2) winners whose projects feature stencils (any brand) will each receive their choice of one (1) ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7)
• ONE (1) winner whose project features an ARTplorations stencil will receive her choice of three (3) ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7) OR a $15 gift certificate to the shop.

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to today's projects here.

Stencil Sunday December Challenge

Good evening all.

Time once again for a new Stencil Sunday challenge STAMPlorations. We loved seeing your projects last month and hope you'll join us again this month.

I've got an 8 x 10 canvas to share with you today using some of the new larger stencils which have recently appeared in the shop.

I started with a layered gelli plate background printed onto light weight card using this tutorial from Barbara Grey. I used  Leaf Bliss and Gridlocked stencils with Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Paints and some scrim tape. This is how it looked:

I then stencilled the large Happy flowers (if you love the little one you'll love this one even more!) with bead gel and once dry I used Silk Acrylic Paint from ColourArte to paint. I painted my canvas board using the same blue paint as on the first layer of the gelli print and once dry adhered the print (which was cut to size) with glue and seal. I applied more of the blue paint around the edges with my finger to blend everything together.

I then used a matching ink to stamp around the edges with one of the Mixed Media Elements stamps and added a sentiment from Bold Sentiments: Believe.

A close up showing the background and gorgeous shimmer on the flowers.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see what the other girls have produced...you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Sparkles Forum - anything but a card

Altered Eclectics - anything MM goes

Mixed Media World - anything goes

Creative Artiste - anything goes

We Love to Create - MM anything goes

For You

Good morning all.

So on Monday night the recaptcha nightmare set in whilst doing my DT commenting and continued all day yesterday...I'd never had a problem before and it was fine when I started commenting all I can think that triggered it was the volume of comments I was making! After several hours tearing my hair out looking for a solution I've managed to reduce it to ticking the "I'm not a robot box" and no longer have to verify the pictures....who in the name of all that's holy dreamt up that one!!!

In Chrome tools menu I went to Settings, scrolled to bottom and clicked Advanced Setting then selected Content Settings and under Cookies made sure Allow Local Data to be set was ticked. Then go into Manage exceptions and set one up using a Hostname pattern shown below and leave the behaviour as allow.

[*.]bigcommerce.com

I hope this helps anyone else having problems and if anyone has any alternate fixes please share :)

So whilst I managed to sort my Christmas cards out and printed my address labels none of them got written...I guess today's another day!

Sharing with you today my November make for the Card Chain Challenge card swap which was sent to Christy in California.

Poppy stamp and die from Sheena Douglas....a recent RAK from a card swap partner, simply matted and layered.

Challenges entered:

Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Retarte - anything goes

Crafting from the Heart - anything goes

Craft Your Passion - anything goes

Not Just Cards - anything goes

The Crazy Challenge - everything goes

AAA - anything CAS goes

Amusing - anything goes

Come and Get It - anything goes

Pile it On - use red and green

Giving Thanks Blog Hop

Good afternoon all.

A lovely afternoon was had yesterday at the spa....wonderful back, shoulder and neck massage and a lovely healthy lunch to follow....well maybe not the bottle of wine we consumed! Also managed to wriggle out of Jury Service until the end of March because of my holidays...although quite why I was selected in the first place when they knew I was going away is anybodies business.

Time for a blog hop...over at STAMPlorations we're "Giving Thanks" today and in light of recent world events I think we can all find something in our lives to be thankful for.

Hoppers must comment on all participating blogs to be eligible to win, commenting ends on Friday, November 27th, 11:55pm Pacific time.

Prize: one 4 x 6 stamp set (winner's choice)

Here is my card:

Background was made on my little gelli plate using ARTplorations Foiled Again and Leaf Bliss stencils, die from Spellbinders. I used copper sparkle medium to stencil the Bloom Silhouettes stencil and added a sentiment from STAMPlorations Holiday Expressions: Thankful for Autumn set. Tag from LOTV, ribbon from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Simon Says Stamp - thankful

Dies R Us - thankful

The Crazy Challenge - everything goes

Dragonfly Journeys - thank you

OSAAT - thanks

Fussy and Fancy - thankful

Sister

Good morning all.

Yesterday was mostly wild and wicked, although quite mild...today is forecast rain and more rain, then rain again!! Hubby is away today so hoping I have the house to myself so I can have a messy play this afternoon.

Sharing today the card I made for my little sister.

Decoupaged image is a Meadow Cottage Bears from Crafter's Companion. Background is a Die'sire Create a Card die. Sister die is from Clearly Besotted. All other dies are from Spellbinders. Sentiment was computer generated. Bows and dotty paper from my stash.

Challenges entered:

The Corrosive Challenge - add a sentiment

The Ribbon Girls - anything goes

Allsorts - ribbons and bows

Bloggers - Happy Birthday

Simply Papercraft - anything goes

Seize the Birthday - anything birthday

Unstampabelles - anything goes, twist use flowers

Artistic Inspirations - anything goes feminine

Get Creative - birthdays

Where the HeART is - anything goes

Stencil Sunday #19

Good evening all.

Gosh this weekend has gone so fast! We had a lovely family meal on Friday night...much to the surprise of my 50 year old sister who had no idea her hubby had been plotting behind her back! Lovely girly day on Saturday at the spa, I enjoyed a wonderful body scrub followed by a full body hot stone massage....bliss! Then it was back home to reality catching up with the "chores"....a more apt word would be hard to come across!

My turn to provide some Stencil Sunday inspiration over at STAMPlorations today. I've got another altered wooden stamp block to share with you today...I finally got around to finishing this for my sister - the baby is only 41/2 months old!! I hope this will inspire you all to get your stencils out.

Backing papers were made a while ago using my gelli plate and Paper Artsy fresco finish paints.

Edges were stamped with Archival ink.

Wording is printed onto tissue paper and attached with glue and seal.  Bow from my stash to finish.

ARTplorations: Hearts all Over, Dots and Dashes, Foiled Again,Gridlocked and Some Birds stencils

STAMPlorations; Trendy Birds and Mixed Media Elements stamps

And don't forget the November Mixed Media Challenge runs until the end of the month! If you want to play, you still have plenty of time left to get messy and share your non-card mixed media projects. It's anything mixed media goes except a card...and you must use a stencil (any brand or even a homemade one!) in your project(s). For the complete challenge info + prizes, click here.

Challenges entered:

Creative Artiste - anything MM goes

Allsorts - ribbons and bows

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything MM goes

Altered Eclectics - anything goes

Country View Crafts - the colour blue

Eclectic Ellapu - altered art
Mixed Media World - anything goes
Love 2 Create - anything MM/creative goes
Craft Stamper - take it make it November

HLS Mixed Media Challenge November "Tag"

Good evening all.

Oops...apologies to Kylie and the team, this should have gone live at 8pm last night! I was obviously being senior when I scheduled it....typical it should happen the one weekend I was off line though!

Some happy news tonight...the first Mixed Media challenge goes went live last night at Happy Little Stampers and I'm lucky enough to be on the design team.

Here is mine:

Made for a neighbour's little girl who was 2 recently. The tag was embossed using a Cuttlebug folder then inked with various shades of pink DI's. I then used stamps from the Mix Mash set to add the sentiment and some background stamping before finishing off with some recycled raffia. 

We're being sponsored by Happy Little Stampers and the winner will receive one stamp set.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see what my teamies have created, you won't be disappointed!

Challenges entered:

Bloggers - happy birthday

Brown Sugar - tag you're it

That's Crafty - tag you're it

Crafting with an Attitude - anything goes

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

Creative Card Crew - off the edge

Hello

Good morning all.

Still battling away with our New Zealand itinerary, I think we're 3/4 of the way there...gosh it's hard going! We want to fit as much as possible in but don't want to spend the whole time on the road living out of a suitcase.

Sharing today the card I made for October's Card Chain Challenge which was sent to Jerrie in Wisconsin.

Dies from Wplus9, Spellbinders and Memory Box. Back ground made using the Alcohol Marker Marbling technique. Pearls and sequins from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Simon Says Stamp - anything goes

ABC Challenge - u for unlimited

613 Avenue Create - anything goes

Amusing - sequins

Glitter n Sparkle - anything goes

Stencil Sunday November Challenge

Good afternoon all.

This is my second post today, if you'd like to see my inspiration for the Eclectic Ellapu November challenge please click here.

Another month gone by and it's time once again to inspire you for our November mixed media Stencil Sunday challenge at STAMPlorations. It was great to see so many entries in our SEptember challenge. I have an altered notebook to share with you today.

Made this ready for my trip to New Zealand in January...it started life as a plain navy blue hard backed  (linen effect) book. I started with a coating of gesso then I added texture paste using the ARTplorations Bubbles and Confetti Circles stencils. Using a brayer I then added layers of lilac and purple acrylic paints until I was happy with the effect. Sentiments are from the STAMPlorations Journey, Explore and Discover sets all stamped on tissue and applied with gel medium. The New Zealand 2016 was computer generated and printed onto tissue and applied in the same way.

I may decorate it some more once we're home but wanted it fairly plain for travelling with for now.

The theme is always anything mixed media goes except a card and you must use at least one stencil (any brand) in your project. Linky closes at the end of the month. I hope you can join us!

Prizes: $15 gift certificate OR choice of any 2 ARTplorations stencils to the winner

choice of 1 ARTplorations stencil to the top picks

Challenges entered:

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything MM goes

We Love 2 Create - anything creative/mixed media goes

Eclectic Ellapu - altered art

Mixed Media Monthly - texture

Stamps and Stencils - make it 3D

Eclectic Ellapu "Balloons, Banners or Bows"

Good morning all.

Oh my word November already!! It must be time for a new challenge over at Eclectic Ellapu and this month Yvonne set the Pink Team the theme of "Balloons, Banners or Bows". I've gone with balloons.

Cake stamp is from Hero Arts, stamped in Memento ink witht he little baubles coloured with a silver gel pen. Balloons are from Whimsy stamps, sentiment from HLS and dies are from Spellbinders.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see what the rest of the team did or alternatively you could join the Purple Team who have a theme of "Altered Art".

I'll be back later with my Stencil Sunday post.

Challenges entered:

Simon says Stamp - anything goes
Hiding in my Craftroom - freestyle
Alphabet Challenge - s for sweet treats
4 Crafty Chicks - anything goes
Aud Sentiments - birthday + sentiment
Crafty Gals Corner - anything goes
Artistic Inspirations - anything goes twist birthdays

Happy Birthday

Good morning all.

Hubby dragged me up to Edinburgh yesterday, lunch and a whip around Ikea followed by a huge shop at Costco...did manage a few crafty purchases along the way so can't grumble lol.

A quick reminder today of the blog hop over at Happy Little Stampers to celebrate Kylie's second release of stamps. You have until the 31st to comment on all the blogs for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to the Happy Little Stampers store!

Today's card is made using stamps from the Mix Mash set. Background has been created by smooshing with distress paints (keep forgetting about these) then over stamping with the same shades of DI. Happy Birthday was heat embossed with black EP. Finished with a few sequins.

Challenges entered:

Craft Stamper - TIMI I used ink and paint

Shopping our Stash - no patterned paper

Sweet Stamps - anything goes

Artistic Inspirations - anything goes birthdays

That Craft Place - anything goes mixed media

We Love 2 Create - anything creative/mixed media goes

Happy Little Stampers - Blog Hop 2

Good evening all.

The patient is recovering on a double dose of antibiotics thank goodness....he's spent all weekend watching the Harry Potter films back to back - don't think I can take any more of it!

Kylie has a second release of six sets of stamps over at Happy Little Stampers and guess what....we're having a blog hop to celebrate.

How to win?

Comment on the HLS blog and then continue to our designers. You must comment on all the blogs in the hop to be eligible for prizes.

I've got three cards to share with you so best get a cuppa and make yourself comfortable before we start!

You should have arrived here from Anita's blog. If you get lost, don't despair...just start back at the Happy Little Stampers blog.

The first two cards use stamps from the Thinking of You set, I love that script background stamp and it's found its way onto all three of my cards! I stamped and heat embossed with gold detail EP, fussy cutting the little butterfly and adding it with a little foam pad to give some dimension. Dies from Spellbinders.

Challenges entered:

Brown Sugar - anything goes

Crafting with Friends - anything goes

Simply Papercraft - anything goes

Same set using the Thank You sentiment...I used a labels die cut to mask off an area of my card then overstamped the script in lilac. Thank You was then stamped in purple ink and I added a heart gem to finish. Dies from Spellbinders.

Challenges entered:

Cardz 4 Galz - CAS

Crafty Girls Creations - anything goes

Crafty Creations - don't be blue

This one uses stamps from the Mix Mash set. Happy Birthday sentiment is heat embossed with black EP. "You" die is from Simon Says Stamp and mat dies from Spellbinders. Finished with some sequins from my stash and a few splatters.

Challenges entered:

Polkadoodles - add sparkle, bling or glitter

Aud Sentiments - birthday

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

I hope I have inspired you today with my cards. The other designers and I have had so much fun playing with these stamps! Next you need to hop on over to Ingrid's blog.

Here's the full list of participants in case you need it.

Happy Little Stampers 

Kylie Purtell

Loll Thompson

Joyce Mehrberg

Gloria Lee

Tanja Kabel

Susan Bridgman

LesLee

Gail Townsend

Carol Steedman

Melissa Lane

Linda Walmsley

Birgit Norton

Kim Heggins

Valentyna

Sue T.

Bonnie Klass

Toni

Chrissie

Anita

Carol Dunham (you are here)

Ingrid Blackburn