April Rudolf Days and a Digi from Dora

We are quickly approaching the end of April, so it is time for the Rudolf days Challenge over at Scrappy Mo's. I've brought two very contrasting cards this time, made with two stamps/ sets I've had in my stash for a long time. The first uses stamps from Little Clare, who I'm sad to say are no longer with us. I stamped in memento and coloured with alcohol based markers. The 3 geese at the front are on an extra fold in the card.

The second card was made with a wood mounted stamp from Penny Black, with hero arts French script in the background and a greeting from woodware. The paper was made with all sorts of sprays with a fair bit of mica in them, so is quite shiny in real life and the trees were embossed in white.
Do pop over to Maureen's blog and take a look at the fabulous inspiration. No harm in making a start on Christmas cards whilst we have the time if you haven't already. 

Finally, here is my DT Card using one of Dora's wonderful digis with a lovely oystercatcher and it's chick at the water's edge, which I coloured with pencils. You can find Dora's fabulous Digis on her website here.
 I do hope you are all okay, and coping with things. How is your hair? I am defintiely ready for a haircut now. Lockdown ponytail seems to be my style, lol. I am sorry I haven't been around as much as I intended here in blogland. I've done 3 zoom karate classes this week and might pull in a 4th if I can. One I ran myself and although I was nervous at first it went well, and I had 10 students. there will be a few more next week too I think. GKR seem to have put things in place very quickly and it is good to see my training buddies and students again.
 Thanks for looking and for your lovely comments. Stay safe xxx
Oh yes, and if you have time, please give my crochet post below a bit of love 😉 Thanks!

Rudolf Day for October

I can't believe it is time  for another Rudolf day already, and there will be only one more before the big day itself! Since Justin and Gordon asked me to join the Be Creative design team I have been having lots of fun playing with the Be Creative Winterland paper pad. This weekend, I have been using up some of the snippets left over from other cards and teaming them up with some snowmen I coloured whilst enjoying a short break in Wales with Steve last week.

For my first card I used a Pink Gem stamp that I have had for many years. I coloured it using Be Creative Alcohol based markers, warm grey 2 and 4, mint blue 143 and Frost blue 182. I added Be Creative diamond glitter glue to the snowman, then used the glue wand and fine iridescent glitter to add some sparkle to the snowflake . I accented the nose, eyes and buttons with glossy accents. Finally I used the glue wand to add some Inkylicious crystal snow by the base of the snowman (Shhh! This is wonderful for covering up smudges on snow scenes!!!) The holographic stick on border is also from Be Creative.

My second card features another snowman - this time a Dinkie stamp from Little Claire. The paper pad and the pens used are the same. The border this time is a self adhesive lace one that comes on a roll from Be Creative. The sentiment is a Frantic stampers die. The glitter glue is not as obvious on this one but it is the same as the previous card.
Do pop over to Scrappy Mo's and have a look at hers and Linby's cards for this month. They are both absolutely gorgeous! Rudolf day Challenge comes highly recommended from me as it gets me well organised and  prepared before December arrives! I am also taking this into Miss Di's snippet playground, where there might be an apple bobbing contest going on...that is if Parsnip hasn't used them all for making scrumpy!
I will leave you with a few photos from our holiday. The Autumn colours were absolutely gorgeous!

This is Llanymynech Nature reserve which is part in Wales and part in England,

 

Pystill Rhaeadr Waterfall,

and the bench with the best view in the world! Also at Llanymynech.

And finally, here I am being a bit daft at the top of Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall, trying to ignore the fact that there is a very big drop behind me!
Thanks for looking!

July Challenge at Stamping Sensations

Good Morning! Another month at Stamping Sensations has flown by! We had some brilliant entries for June, but now it's time for a new challenge, in which we would like you to

* * * * * FEATURE A CREATURE * * * * *

Show us your projects featuring a creature (or creatures!) of land, sea or air!

Please do remember that as we are a stamping challenge, your entry must include some stamping if you wish it to be considered for our prize or Top 3 positions. It would be a shame to miss out, as our sponsor this month is once again Little Claire Designs, who have very kindly given us a most generous £35 voucher for the lucky winner to spend on their website.

As soon as I saw our topic for this month, I knew which stamp I would use! The beautiful Hedgehog  on Little Claire's Silhouette 'Whisper a Wish'

 I stamped the base card with Inkylicious delicate vine in shades of pink and orange. I used silk art card and masked around the edges with masking tape. I then used my ink dusters to make the scene using peach bellini and sunset orange Adirondack ink.Finally I stamped the silhouette stamp in archival black ink.
You can feature any type of creature in your entries this month, and of course remember you can enter up to three times with any type of cards or projects. The DT have featured some simply adorable creatures in their samples, so do go over to the Challenge Blog and have a look at them.
If you are looking for more creatures, you can check out my garden photos below. Thanks for looking!

June Challenge at Stamping Sensations

Good morning! This is the first Sunday of the month and so time for a new challenge over at Stamping Sensations. This month our theme is........................

******Dies and Punches******

We still need to see a stamped element but this can be combined with whatever dies and punches you would like to use.
 Here is my card

The flower stamp is from Little Claires and the sentiment is from Inkylicious. I stamped the background with the inkylicious worn paint background. The dies are from Marianne designs and spellbinders. The inks are Adirondack Eggplant and Pool. I coloured the flower with promarkers and added colour to the card and die cuts with my ink dusters.

We have a fabulous prize from.............

Tonic Studios who are this months sponsor are synonymous with quality and precision cutting products from scissors to punches, guillotines to dies. During the last year they have extended their range of products to high quality clear stamps  and very recently released their own design papers. Their products are available from many High Street craft stores and frequently feature on Create and Craft TV. And here is a photo of that prize:

 

What an amazing prize it is! As this goes live I will be getting ready to set off to Doncaster to Stamp Magic, a show I really love! 

Hope you get the chance to join in with our Challenge this month. Please pop over to the challenge blog and take a look at the wonderful inspiration created by my fab teamies!

Thanks for looking!

March at Stamping Sensations

Good Morning! This month at Stamping Sensations our theme is 'One for the boys!'. It was an easy one for me as three out of four males in our immediate family have had their birthday already this year! . The card above was the one I made for my Dad's Birthday. The Garden shelf stamp is from Little Claire, and the stripy paper is a free download from Canon Creative park. I used promarkers to colour the stamps.

I stamped the watering can separately and attached with 3d glue. I also added flat backed pearls for the drawer handles.
My second card was my brother's birthday card.

This was made using a range of Inkylicious stamps, ink dusters, a mountain and valley stencil and memento inks.

We are sponsored this month by Foil Play who are offering a wonderful prize of £35 to spend in their on-line store.
Do pop over to the challenge blog and take a look at the stunning inspiration that our DT have created. I am looking forward to visiting and seeing all the wonderful creations you produce this month.
Thanks for looking!

February at Stamping Sensations

It is the first Sunday of the month and time for a new challenge at Stamping Sensations. For February we have a nice easy theme for you :

********Anything Goes********

 It doesn't get much simpler than that does it? Our sponsors this month are the wonderful team from Little Claire. As always you can enter up to three different pieces of artwork and combine with other challenges.

Here is my card

I created the background with my Inkylicious ink dusters and mountain and valley stencil, then stamped the Little Claire silhouette meadow girl stamp in black over the top. 

'What is the prize this month?' I hear you ask. Well, if you win you get to spend £35 in the shop at Little Claire.

-What a great prize, eh?

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see all the fab projects from the DT and then you can follow the links to see how they made them. I am looking forward to seeing all of your wonderful projects this month. 

Thanks for looking!