Secrets of the Garden

Good evening all....running a tad late today!

Sunshine and showers has been the name of the game today and waiting for the refridgerator engineer who turned up at 6.30pm!

This has been lying waiting for words on my desk for weeks now but I finally got it finished this afternoon.

My May page in my Art Journal. Lots of stamping and stencilling...main focal stencils from Imagination Crafts and Prima. Sentiment stamps from Bo Bunny, Paper Artsy and Mucky Paws. Background stamps from Artistic Stampers and Crafter's Companion.

Challenges entered:

Mixed Media Mojo - tic tac toe (May, stencil, stamp)

Artistic Stamper - journal your heart out

Stamps and Stencils - three of a kind (flowers)

Crafting with an Attitude - anything goes/spring fever

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Simon Says Stamp - anything goes

Noted

Good morning all.

We ended up with another glorious spring day yesterday despite the cloudy forecast. The eclipse was quite surreal as my computer sits in full sunshine at that time of day so I was sat with the sun on my back and the moons shadow shading the screen. It was actually too sunny to see the moon itself and I didn't have anything protective for my eyes so I basked in it instead lol.

A bit of upcycling/altering today...I won this  note block in a raffle recently and decided it was ripe for a bit of altering.

This is how it used to be...navy blue tacky plastic cover but a nice size and very sturdy. This is what it looks like now:

This is plan A...I started with plan B and painted the plastic with black gesso then used the brayer with various Fresco Finish paints but I didn't like it....so...

After removing the notepad I recovered the whole outer with adhesive canvas and painted it with gesso.  I then set to with a brayer and some Fresco Finish paints from Paper Artsy in first an opaque Mermaid then a translucent South Pacific. Peacock feathers DI was then sponged through a circles stencil from Memory Box before I stamped a chicken wire and word stamps from Artistic Stamper.

The bird on a branch is a stencil from Imagination Crafts and I've used two colours of Sparkle Medium. Noted is from Prima, metal doily and love plate were a recent purchase from China, butterfly charm from Splodgeaway and corners from Mucky Paws...these were all gessoed then sponged with peacock feathers DI. Feather and flower were from my stash.

I love how this turned out!

Challenges entered:

Mixed Media Monthly - birds of a feather

Our Creative Corner - junk in your trunk

Paper Artsy - deconstruction

Recycle, Re-Purpose & Re-Invent - anything goes

Mixed Media World - anything goes

Imagination Crafts "February Challenge - Anything Goes"

Good morning all.

It's time once again for a new challenge at Imagination Crafts.

Our theme is always anything goes and the winner will receive a £40 voucher to spend in the Imagination Crafts Shop.

I've done a canvas this time, although my brain wasn't really in gear when I started!

An 8x8 canvas painted with black gesso, then roughly coated with red acrylic paint. I then used the Time and Motion stencil with white acrylic...if my brain had been in gear I'd have used texture paste!

Next I added the Skateboarder stencil (not yet on the website) using Black Stars Sparkle Medium...I really should have added everything else first! After allowing everything to dry I added lots of bits and pieces...bottle tops, clothing label, buttons, cogs from the inside of a tape roller, tapestry plastic and some wooden embellishments from Prima. These were all painted with white gesso then various acrylic paints. Take Risks sentiment is from Visible Image and I stamped onto tissue paper. After raiding hubby's toolbox I added some silver washers to finish off.

I'm quite happy with the finished results though and eldest is going to hang it on his bedroom wall...so it can't be that bad lol!

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from my team mates, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Use Your Stuff - paint

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

Recycle, Re-Purpose & Re-Invent - anything goes but must recycle

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything goes

Altered Eclectics - anything goes

Celebrate

Good morning all.

I made some headway with the Christmas cleaning yesterday and hubby is shampooing the sitting room carpet today so we might get the decorations up in time for the big day! On the wedding front I only need to cut and stick two tables worth of place names and put the table plan together...I managed to get the rest done last night.

The wedding takes place today, they've been together for 18 years. They've gone to York to do the deed with my niece and her husband acting as witnesses. They're hosting a party for the rest of us on Saturday after they get home.

Here is the card I have made her.

Decoupaged image is from Cuddly Buddly. Backing paper is from Prima. Dies are from Spellbinders. Punch from Martha Stewart. Sentiment from LOTV. Ribbon, charm and pearls from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Craft-Dee Bowz - anything goes with a hand tied bow

Jellypark Friends - ribbons or bows

Scribble and Scrap - anything goes

Sentimental Sundays - anything goes

The Corrosive Challenges - anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

That's Crafty - anything goes

Paper Shelter - special celebration

Penny's Paper-Crafty - anything but Christmas

21st Birthday

Good morning all.

Well I think a spot of grocery shopping is much needed today...the cupboards are well and truly bare (according to the kids that is!). I'm sure there's plenty of store cupboard ingredients to keep us going for several weeks but of course they're not instant. Also got a basket of ironing to do but got a new iron (not that I like wasting money on such things but the old one no longer did what it said on the tin!) so I suppose I really should test it out.

Today's share is a 21st birthday card for a nephew's girlfriend.

Image is called Lillith and she's my absolute favourite from PpinkyDollsArt. I've printed on desert storm kraft card and coloured her with promarkers. Oval dies are from Spellbinders. Doily die is from Cheery Lynn. Happy Birthday Die is from Memory Box. Base mat is a PATP from Martha Stewart. Flowers are from Petal Lu, leaves are very old stash. Backing paper is from Prima. The 21st was stamped with a set of Anita's alphabet stamps and heat embossed with EP...both of which I've had unused for years :( Finished with some pearls and a bow from my stash.

I've had the Cheery Lynn doily die for quite some time and have always had trouble getting it to cut, especially in the middle so have always given up and used it as a mat thereby hiding the uncut portion. This time I persevered and was most surprised to find it cut into two parts! They say you learn something new everyday....

Challenges entered:

Crafty Catz - autumn

Wags n Whiskers - fall colours

I Love Promarkers - autumn colours

Inky Impressions - flowers and leaves

Aud Sentiments - anything goes with a sentiment

Milk Coffee Challenge - lots of layers

Natalie and Amy's Challenge - colouring on kraft

Shopping our Stash - it's the most colourful time of the year

PpinkyDolls - fall colours

Great Impressions - autumnal elegance

Lia Stampz - distressed plus kraft

Live Laugh Love

Good morning all.

A quiet day at home was had yesterday with a little bit of crafting and a lot of being lazy!!

A project to share today which I started ages ago but has been lying in my craft room waiting to be finished...you know the type!!

I was lucky enough to win this Imagination Craft's MDF kit from Linda. I started by painting all the MDF with acrylic paint. Once dry I added paper to the front from Prima's Fairy Belles collection. I used the cutout from the middle, reverse side up, beneath the aperture and stamped the sentiment which was a recent magazine freebie. I cut images from another sheet of paper to layer up the fairy, butterflies and flowers then added butterfly die cut from Marianne Design to finish. I even remembered to sandwich my recycled ribbon hanger between the two sheets of MDF before glueing them together!

I just need to find somewhere to hang it now.

Challenges entered:

Creative Corner - girly

A Girl who Crafts - anything goes

Altered Eclectics - anything goes

Country View Challenges - word play

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - anything goes

Red's Creative Spirit - anything goes

TokBobok - mixed media

Moving along with the Times - feeling a little vintage

Inky Chicks - fairies or angels

Loves Rubber Stamps - wings

All Crafts Challenge - anything but a card

Miracle

Good morning all.

Well it's been sunshine and showers for the last few days, wonder what the weekend is going to bring! Not a Bank Holiday weekend up here in Scotland but since I don't work I'll maybe pop down home for the day on Monday and go to the local agricultural show.

The smelly silicon glue seems to have struck me again!! I used Collal the other day to stick my calendar together and whilst it didn't smell at the time it does now it's dry!! I opened a new tube for this card to stick the flower arrangement and again no smell from the tube but I can smell it now it's dry...not as bad as the Pinflair glue did but it's rather off putting to say the least....grrrr.

A card to share today using another of the gorgeous PPinkyDollsArt images, this one is called Miracle.

(The one I used on my calendar earlier in the week is called Lilith not Gigi in case you go looking!).

I've coloured the image with promarkers before diecutting with an oval nestie and layering onto a co-ordinating scalloped oval. Backing papers are from Prima. Lacy die is a Tattered Lace magazine freebie, butterfly is from Marianne Design an all other dies are Spellbinders. Flowers are from Petal Lu; lace from Creative Expressions; ribbon from Crafty Ribbons; leaves and bling from my stash. Sentiments are from LOTV and a magazine freebie.

Challenges entered:

Artbymiran -anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

Stempelsonnen - anything goes

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper - anything goes

Crafty Ribbons - celebration with ribbons

Seize the Birthday - anything goes Birthday

Crafter's Cafe - square cards only

Paper Shelter - lace

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - anything square or rectangular

Tattered Lace - decadence

Happy Day

Good morning all.

The revolting natives have been calmed with a full fridge...don't suppose it will stay that way for long though!

On Saturday night I did a live colouring class with Alyce Keegan from Kit and Clowder. My live colouring wasn't too great....my skin colours were wrong, it was late and the adverts kept popping up at the most inopportune moments! Well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!

Here is my second attempt done at leisure on Sunday, with better light.

The image is Flower Girl from Lia Stampz available at Whimsy Stamps which I've coloured with promarkers. Backing paper is from Prima...which I've embossed with a corner die and inked with DI whilst still in the die. Corner and foliage dies are both from Marianne Designs. Circle dies are from Spellbinders. The gorgeous ribbon is a new acquisition from Crafty Ribbons which I couldn't resist! Flowers are from Petal Lu, sentiment from Hero Art and leaves and doily from my stash.

I have now signed up to do the skin and hair colouring classes at Kit and Clowder so hoping to find some time over the next few weeks to get to grip with it.

Challenges entered:

Creative Card Crew - embossing

Crafting from the Heart - anything goes

Crafty Boots - flowers

Stamp and Create - anything goes

I Love Promarkers - anything goes

Happy Birthday

Good morning all and welcome to my newest followers. 

Another fine day here yesterday and the forecast is the same today although slightly cooler.

Another card to share today which I made a while ago but didn't have time to blog.

Using a Paintbox Poppets decoupage from Crafter's Companion which I've die cut with an oval nestie and layered onto a fancy nestie both from Spellbinders. Paper is from the Prima Botanicals collection. Card is simply finished with a stamped sentiment. Love the  vintage feel of this card.

Challenges entered:

Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes

Sugar Creek Hollow - anything vintage goes

Brown Sugar - anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

Charisma Cardz - anything goes

Crafter's Cafe - friends

Crafting by Designs - anything goes

Carol x

Thanks

Good morning all.

I managed to get my wedding ring back on yesterday with a struggle...my finger is still sore where the sting went in but at least the swelling has now disappeared. Moral of the story....check the herbs before gripping them!! Managed to get the first batch of evening invites completed yesterday so only three more batches to do!!

A card I made for a swap to share today....I've a bank of cards stacked up that I just haven't had time to blog so this one was made over a month ago!

I've used one of the gorgeous Faerie Poppets decoupage images (which I keep forgetting to use!) and die cut with a nestie circle and added it to a scalloped mat both from Spellbinders. Backing paper is from Prima's Fairy Flora pad. Floral die of from Memory Box - I bought this die several months ago and this  was only it's second outing!!  Tag and ribbon are from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Crafting by Designs - anything goes

Penny's Paper-Crafty - lots of layers 

Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Party Time Tuesday - Thanksgiving/thanks

Shopping our Stash - thanks

Tuesday Throwdown - tag it

Craft-Dee Bowz - anything goes with a bow

House of Gilli - thanks

Scribble & Scrap - always anything goes

Crafting Muskateers - pretty pastels

Aud Sentiments - feminine

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #49 Floral Delight

Good morning all.

Today it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Floral Delight". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by A Day for Daisies  and the DT were given images to use. 

Image is called "Miss Polly Clown" and I've coloured it with promarkers. Dies are from Spellbinders. Backing paper and flower are from Prima which I've had for ages. Ribbon, ric rac and pearls from my stash.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Can You Digiit - pick a season (spring)

Clear it Out - spring is coming (flowers)

Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes

A Little Bit Crafty - anything goes

The Stamping Shack Blog - spring has sprung

Creative Creations - Easter/spring

OLLCB - orange and green

Stamp and Create - use at least one die cut

Stamp with Fun - spring

Carol x

Birthday Wishes

Good morning all. Well it was lovely to see some blue sky and sunshine yesterday, lets hope it continues. I got some more DT work completed yesterday and now only need one more card for April....just as well I'm ahead as I need about 21 cards for May!!

We had visitors yesterday afternoon bearing gifts :)

Not very good for the healthy eating plan, hopefully the kids will eat them before I do!!

Another birthday card to share today.

Topper from LOTV, backing cards from Kanban, dies from Spellbinders, charm from Kraftyhands and flower from Prima. Ribbon, pearls and sentiment from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes

Tuesday Alchemy - monochromatic pastels

Crafty Bloggers Network - spring or pastels

Crafty Boots - flowers

Forever Friends - girls

House of Gilli - flowers and/or ribbon

Love to Create - pastels

The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - happy birthday

Paper Crafting Journey - ribbon or lace

CRAFT - Mother's Day/female

Carol x

Crafting when we Can #27 Birthday Blog Hop

It's time for a new challenge at CWWC and as we've just turned one we're having a birthday blog hop. All projects for this challenge must be for a birthday with a "1" in it. We're being sponsored by The Digi Garden, Dilly Beans Digi Stamps, Saturated Canary, Kenny K and Dude Time Doodles.

I've used an image from Saturated Canary for my card.

Image is coloured with promarkers and die cut with a Spellbinders die; papers are from Prima; border die and scalloped circle from Spellbinders; lace from Joanna Sheen; rest from my stash.

If you've arrived from Ang's blog you're on the right tracks, your next stop on the hop is Caz's blog.

Here is the order of the hop:

Ang

Carol (you are here)

Caz

Jovita

Lyn

Martina

Poppet

Robin

Crafting Vicky

Vicky

Challenge Blog

Sadly this is my last challenge with CWWC as I have decided to step down from the Design Team. I'd like to wish Ang and the rest of the team all the best for the future and thank Ang for giving me the chance to design.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the creations of my team mates and for further information about the blog hop.

Challenges entered:

Jellypark Challenges - all about the children

Poodles Parlour - here come the girls

QKR Stampede - birthday celebrations

Forever Friends - ribbon

Saturated Canary - things beginning with B (balloons, border die, bow, bling)

Love to Create - ribbon or twine

Paper Pretties - birthday card

Carol x

Whoopsi Daisy - add a sentiment

It's time for another challenge at  Whoopsi Daisy  and this week it's team A's turn to share their inspiration with you. The theme this week is to use a sentiment on your creation.
Before I show you my project I must tell you about the new CD of Linnie's artwork, Daisy & Friends at Christmas. Full of Christmas friends, fairies and angels both pre-coloured and outlined with a range of backing papers to compliment.
The CD is available from Joanna Sheen.

My card this week uses an image from sheet #367.

Image is coloured with promarkers and highlighted with a gel pen. Backing paper from Prima, dies from Spellbinders, flower from Prima, ribbon from Crafty Ribbons and pearls from stash.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from the rest of the team and remember if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image you could win 2 image sheets, 1 sheet will be awarded to a winner using any other image.

Challenges entered:

Delightful Challenges - punches and dies

I Love Promarkers - gardens

Paper Pretties - square cards

Whimsy Inspiration - lots of layers

Party Time Tuesdays - garden delights

The Poodles Parlour - die cuts

Craft your Days Away - anything goes

Carol x

Crafting when we Can #25 Rainbows

It's time for a new challenge at CWWC and this time we the theme is rainbows - so lets see lots of colours on your projects. We're being sponsored by Di's Digi Downloads.

Using an image and backing paper from Joanna Sheen's Enchanted Dreams CD. Fibres from Inkylicious, flower from Prima and pearls from stash.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the creations of my team mates.

Challenges entered:

Paper Crafting Journey - anything goes

For your Inspiration - photo inspired

Bearly Mine - anything with wings

Little Red Wagon - animals

Crafty Catz - animals

Fairy Tale - song inspiration (Over the Rainbow)

Totally Papercrafts - insp by a song (Over the Rainbow)

A Gem of a Challenge - animals

Carol x

Aud Sentiments #57 Bingo

Our next challenge over at Aud Sentiments is a Bingo card.  We're being sponsored by Stamp and Create.

I've used "Happy", ribbon and die cut on my card. Decoupaged image is from Sarah Kay, dies are from Spellbinders, flowers and butterfly from Prima, ribbon and button both candy wins, border punch from Martha Stewart, sentiment and gems from my stash.

Here is the bingo card, choose any line across, down or diagonal and please tell us which you use.

Showing the dimension on the card.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see my team mates take on this challenge, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Lexi's Creations - Happy Birthday

Love to Create - summertime fun

Squigglefly - border patrol

The Crazy Challenge - recipe

Corrosive Challenges - feeling punchy

By the Cute and Girly - cute as a button

Crafter's Companion - use lots of embellishments

Pixie Dust Paperie - summer days

Divas by Design - to die for

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #14 Thanksgiving or thanks

Time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is thanks or thanksgiving and/or a sketch. We're being sponsored by Bugaboo and The Stamping Boutique and the DT were given images to work with. I've combined Pumpkin and Pie from The Stamping Boutique with Bobblehead Thanksgiving Scarecrow from Bugaboo as I thought they worked really well together.

Base card Kraft, BP from Prima Melody Collection. Images coloured with promarkers. Card finished with a ribbon, button, baker's twine, diecut corners from Marianne Designs and pearls.

I choose not to use the sketch this time (well to tell the truth I forgot lol) but it is a fab sketch from Jani.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from my team mates, you'll not be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Stampin with the Dragon - food for thought
Our Creative Corner - pumpkins or pumpkin pie
Jens Digi Stamps - autumn/fall
Use it Tuesday - cooking
Card Makin Mamas - thanks
Crafty Catz - use a digi
Phindy's Place - thankful
Sparkles Forum - autumn
Kaboodle Doodles - thanksgiving
Ooh La La Creations - bingo (pearls, ribbon, buttons)
Simon says Stamp - thanksgiving/thanks
Celebrate the Occasion - thanksgiving
Stamp n Doodle - tic tac toe (emb. ribbon, digi)
Pixie Cottage - family thankfulness
Anything goes - a real sweetie
Dude Time Doodles - gobble til you wobble

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #11 Fall Flowers/Pumpkins

It was lovely to see all your sunset/fall colours last time and we're sticking with a Fall theme this time too. Over at CFAS we'd like to see Fall Flowers and/or Pumpkins on your projects. We're being sponsored by Fred She Said and the DT got to chose an image to work with - I chose Pumpkin Bouquet:

This was a fabulous image to work with, I've coloured it with promarkers then cut it with a scalloped nestie circle and used some tea dye DI and peach ink to colour the background whilst it was still in the die. I've layered onto a larger purple scalloped circle. For the backing I've used grand nestie squares to cut out a layer in terracotta and one in peach which I've matted to the card base after tying a gingham ribbon around. Card is finished with Marianne Design corners, buttons, lilac flowers and a Prima butterfly.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to be inspired by my team mates creations, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Little Darlings - fall/halloween

Daisy Doodles Creative - fall/thanksgiving

House of Gilli - fall/autumn

The Stamping Boutique - summer to fall

Penny's Paper Crafty - anything goes

Meljens - square and circle

Shelly's Images - Tic Tac Toe (flowers, digi, buttons)

Totally Papercrafts - autumn

Our Craft Lounge - fall foliage

Stampin with the Dragon - fall colours

Easy Craft Projects - autumn or thank you

Just Some Lines - fall colours

Crafty Catz - things with wings

Phindy's Place - autumn/fall

The Ribbon Reel - autumn elegance

Stamp n Doodle - fall

For fun - leaves

The Pixie Cottage - fall fun

Crafts and Me - use a digi

Cooking it up with Katie - F word (fall, flowers)

Fresh Brewed - pumpkins

ABC DT Challenge - pumpkins

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #8 Bingo

Another two weeks flown by so it's time for a new challenge at CFAS and this time we're playing bingo, just choose any three elements in a straight line to use on your project and don't forget to tell us which line you used. We're being sponsored by The Stamping Boutique this time and half the DT are using their images, the rest of us are showcasing gorgeous free images from Sliejkes Stamps.

I've used image 85 "Girl with Teddy Bear" for my card and coloured it with promarkers then mounted it with foam pads. The gold metallic frame is filled with polished stone BP both from Crafty Ann's digi shop, the frame is from the brand new metallics range and as a special promotion throughout August and September it's buy one get one free. Backing paper is from Prima and the card is finished with a bow, stitched button (rescued from a sock belonging my DD), an embossed corner die cut, a tag and some pearls.

My line buttons, embossing and ribbons or buttons, die cuts and tag.

Do pop over to the challenge blog and meet the new members of the Design Team and see what delights they   all have in store for you.

Challenges entered:

Allsorts - you've been framed

Ready Teddy Go - Buttons and Bows

Ribbon Girl - anything goes

Aud Sentiments - anything goes

Shelly's Image Blog - anything goes

Kaboodle Doodle - ribbons

Paper Playtime - anything goes

My Time to Craft - here come the girls

Anything Goes - inspired by TV/film (You've been Framed)

A Spoon full of Sugar - Happy Birthday

Digital Tuesday - cute and girly

Poodles Parlour - anything goes

Carol x