Autumn at Try It On Tuesday

Our new challenge at TRY IT ON TUESDAY is called 'Autumn Colours'
Despite the mess left at the back of my garden from next doors magnificent Oak tree I find Autumn to be one of the most serene times of the year. The colours are simply beautiful and do much to soothe a troubled soul.
Here's my card

Used a 3D embossing folder from Tim Holtz, 

I swiped it over with a Versamark pad after embossing and added some copper embossing powder.

Some ink blending using Fired Brick, Peeled Paint, Crackling Campfire and Rusty Hinge.

I have struggled to take a good pic that will show off the copper embossing which is disappointing! At a time when I am finding fault with so many things I was actually reasonably OK with this make and the effect made by the embossing powder!

Thanks for looking today and hope you will join us. x

Midway reminder for Try It On Tuesday

 We're half way through our AUTUMN challenge at Try It On Tuesday so there's still time for you to enter!

I've done a small note card for my stash which measures 5"square.

I used watercolour card  and a stamp from Rubbernecker, (I've had it for a long time!).

Inked up the stamp using watercolour pens and gave a very light mist of water, then stamped.

Was happy how the first pass looked and there still seemed to be a little colour left on the stamp so did it again.
The secondary stamping didn't turn out quite as well as I hoped but it's not too bad!

A bit more watercolouring then cut it into 3 panels and popped it onto a die cut stitched frame.

Thanks for looking and have a great day whatever you're doing! x

New Challenge at Try It On Tuesday

October already! So it follows that our next challenge at TRY IT ON TUESDAY Tuesday would be related to the time of year - our theme is AUTUMN MAGIC.
I've had a change from card making and made myself a bit of home decor!

Meet Leafbeard.....! Leafbeard is a magical gnome who lives at the bottom of the Oak Tree in the garden.

I had a bit of fun and also used up some odd bits that have been lying about in a box.
The hat is a small piece of slub linen material cut with out with pinking shears, folded and glued to make the cone shape. (I don't sew if I can help it!)

I used a small piece of stuffing inside the hat and tied the top with some string.

A piece of cardboard was cut as a base for his beard and the leaves were all die cut from bits of felt. Once stuck I put the top part of the cardboard into the bottom of the hat and glued.

His nose is a small polystyrene ball which I chopped in half with a knife so it would lay flat!

A few tiny scraps for patches and an offcut of the cone shape stuck on the hat and job done!

He measures about 8" in total and will be hung with the pumpkins and other bits on the twiggy tree display for Autumn.

Hope you can join us - can't wait to see what you create!

Home for Autumn!

 

It's been a very dull grey misty morning here and it generally feels damp - the leaves on my Birch tree have changed colour and are now falling -  I think Winter is on it's way!

Another Lavinia to share - (and having needed to do a couple of new homes cards for my own stash and unable to come up with something a bit out of the ordinary, I turned as always to Pinterest).

This is a large slimline card and I really like these cottage and lodge stamps 'cos I can imagine them hidden away in the magical kingdom home to elves and pixies!

This one is called 'Bayleaf Cottage'.

Coloured with Inktense pencils after ink blending the background with Spiced Marmalade and Fossilized Amber.

I used Carved Pumpkin DI through the Lavinia stencil.

A few leaves stamped in Autumn colours and a little tree (which looks just like my Birch tree!) to finish.

Sharing over at
Stencil is our Game - A/Goes w/Orange option
I Spy - Autumn Shades
Dragonfly Dreams - Autumn

Thanks for looking - have a great day whatever you're doing! x

Mid Way at Try It On Tuesday

  

Our latest challenge of 'Autumn' is now at the half way point over at Try It On Tuesday.
Please scroll down to the post below for my first DT card!

I have had this 'Autumn Fall Fairy' from Lavinia for a long time and I very rarely use it - I don't know why because it's another lovely fairy from their collection! 

She's quite big which is why I opted for a DL sized card.

All other stamps are also Lavinia.

I used Versafine Clair Fallen Leaves for the trees and Fall Fairy and inked the leaves in a mixture of Versafine Clair Acorn and Memento Potters Clay.

I think maybe I should have made the forest floor a bit more intense but I really wanted to have the fairy as the focal point.

There is a spattering of glitter on wings and hair but it doesn't show very well in the photo!

Some lovely Autumn creations already linked in the challenge blog - and if you've not done so you still have time to join us!

Thanks for looking today. x

Try It On Tuesday - New Challenge

Well! October! This year has simply flown by and Autumn is well and truly upon us here.
Seem to have spent a lot of time lately getting up the leaves from the large oak tree that overhangs onto rear driveway from our lovely neighbours. Its a magnificent tree and I love to watch it as the seasons change.

Anyway the card for Try It On Tuesday's new challenge of Autumn which starts today is inspired by a mischievous squirrel who loves to run up said oak tree with his spoils - he disappears from view when he gets near the top so I hope he has found someone to share them with!

I used a variety of colours and stamps for this make.

The leaves and the log stamps are from Lavinia as is the rather large 'nut' being inspected!
Potters Clay, Rich Cocoa, Tangelo, Tea Leaves Memento and Versacolour inks, and Fired Brick Oxide.

The two squirrels are from Card-io and the sentiment is from Inkylicious which I thought was so very apt and very true.

The rest of the DT and our Guest Designer have lots of inspiration for you so please pop over to the blog and pay them a visit. Hope too, that you will join us this fortnight and celebrate the colours of Autumn! x

September Card Chain Challenge

 Reveal Day at Card Chain Challenge!
My make this month winged it's way across to Chris in Illinois and I received a lovely card from Dee in Kenya. Truly global we are!

I was happy when I saw the themes to choose from this month and it also meant I could incorporate the colour option.

My theme choices were Foxes/Autumn and the colours were Sky/Sunset/Bark. All tied in very nicely!Started by ink blending the sky in Speckled Egg and Stormy Sky DI.

Stamped the tree using Lavinia for the trunk and some branches from Card-io.

I have been trying to perfect the inking and colouring of foxes for a while and am still not there I don't think despite watching lots of tutorials!
I stamped originally in Russet Orange and then began highlighting with acrylic pens - not too bad but more practice needed!

The leaves on the tree were a freebie stamp with a mag some time ago and they have been well used!
Colours were second generation Versafine Shady Lane, Barn Door and Spiced Marmalade DI.
I finished off by adding some ink blended grassy mounds.

Thanks for looking today - there's still a few days left if you want to sign up for next month's chain - it's great fun!

Also sharing at -
Four Seasons - Autumn
CUYL - Autumn Leaves
Sweet Stampin' -Autumn 
Cupcake Inspirations - Colour Board

Autumn has come round fast!

Back home after a little break with some friends and on our little jaunts out it was really apparent that here in the UK Autumn has arrived. Doesn't seem that long ago when I was greeting the spring daffodils!

Another card inspired by the photograph taken on the recent walk (see photo here)  and back to CAS this time - although I have been going a little mad with inky backgrounds just recently, more of which will be shared in due course!

A simple watercoloured background (the pale blue sky hasn't shown up too well 😔) fading to a grey horizon and then the straw coloured wheat and wild poppy field.

The sentiment I have decided is definitely one which will be used often - as it is so true.

Sharing over at
Alphabet - N for Nature
Addicted to CAS - Autumn
Dragonfly Dreams- Autumn

Some time ago we were lucky to see a huge sculpture by Luke Jerram of the Earth, this week we saw another of his amazing works currently on show at Lichfield Cathedral - the Moon!

They are enormous, detailed and very accurate, (although obviously not to scale!). But just like the Floating Earth, his Moon sculpture is taken from actual images supplied by NASA so all the craters etc are actually what the surface is really like and in the exact places.

It makes you realise how small you are! Fabulous! Live in the Moment indeed.

Leaf

I love the colours of Autumn so have no idea why I opted to steer away from the rusty orange type colours when deciding to use this stamp but thought it would make a change!

I watercoloured three straight colour blocks using Distress Oxides Squeezed Lemonade, Bundled Sage and Cracked Pistachio.

I used a rectangle mask to try and achieve (reasonably) straight edges and painted inside.

Not too bad and I quite like the fact that some of the colours have run into each other.

The leaf and sentiment stamped with Versamagic Ocean Depth which is fast becoming one of my fave colours and as usual with me I had to add a few ink spatters!

Sharing over at
MMM -  Autumn Flora
SOS - Leaf it alone
A2S+M - Any Occasion

Have braved the terrible weather here this morning (lashing rain!) and popped down to a local Macmillan Coffee Morning. Two pieces of cake later I thought the time had come to go before I was tempted further!
Now an afternoon at the craft desk for me! Hope all is well in your part of blogland. x

Mid Month CAS Mix Up

It's mid month reminder time for the challenge at CAS Mix Up. This mixed media month has the theme of BOTANICAL PRINTS.
This is a fun technique and although I am struggling to have any inspiration for card making, I did enjoy the theme set by Bonnie.
Lots of gorgeous examples from the Design Team though and our special Guest Designer Izzy along with some video tutorials all on the blog!

As I steered away from Autumn shades in my launch card, I used them on this one but opted for the duller brown shade rather than the vibrant red and orange with which we always relate this time of year to.
This botanical print was done with leaves from a rather large oak tree which sits at the bottom of the path in this rental house.

I used Espresso Truffle ink to get the impression.

Some soft ink blending for a bit of background interest and matted onto brown card.

The acorns were from a free set with a magazine, stamped, embossed, watercoloured and fussy cut then I added some glossy accents to make them shine.

I apologise for the poor picture which really looks rather 'flat' and doesn't show the colours very well at all - there simply isn't a place anywhere here with good light to take images - soooo frustrating!

Thanks for looking and hope you will join us this month. x

CAS Mix Up September Challenge

CAS Mix Up September challenge is a WATERCOLOUR one and the theme is AUTUMN COLOURS which has been chosen by Leslie.

I did this card whilst most of my crafting supplies were still packed away and am really happy with the way it turned out!

The stamps were a freebie with a craft magazine last year - an assortment of Autumn stamps, trees, acorns etc. I really liked the small scattered leaf stamp and there were also a couple of really small ones which although fiddly did the job.
After stamping the leaves at the bottom, I used a wet brush and smudged the ink a little.
Am hoping that I have projected an image of an Autumn woodland floor!

We have a great guest designer this month and the rest of the team have made some beautiful cards to share with you all - hope you can find some time to watercolour something with those lovely colours that Autumn brings and pop it in the gallery over at CAS Mix Up!

Autumn and a Reply to a Post?

Before we get to the card can anyone tell me how to reply to someone who has left a comment on a post? There's no e mail on the persons profile and now Blogger has removed access to the link back to the person's blog. I don't want the person concerned who has asked the question to think I am being rude! There must be a way to do it in the Blog settings but I can't find it, so any help appreciated.

 

I love the colours of Autumn.

Dry days where there is nothing better than walking through crunchy fallen leaves. I think it may be my fave time of year as nature's colours are simply spectacular.  Autumn Glory indeed!

 

The stamps used here are all by Stampendous and I inked them in shades of orange and red with a bit of green onto an odd piece of card.

Matted the panel onto another left over piece of orange card and stamped two more leaves onto a couple of odd scraps that were just about to go into the bin.

Fussy cut the leaves, stamped the sentiment and job done.

Sentiment inked in Spiced Marmalade.

Joining in at a few Autumn themed challenges -  

TIOT - Autumn Colours
MTTC - Autumn Colours
CAS on Friday - Autumn

Have a great day whatever you're doing! x

Autumn Day

A quick card make to share.

Simply done by blending an ink background and using a coin to mask off a circle.

I opted not to make the circle really defined as I wanted it to look misty! (Not sure I've achieved that but....!!)

Graduated Stormy Sky down to Shabby Shutters  with a touch of Peeled Pain at the bottom.

The stamp was a gift from a friend and I don't know which make it is.

I positioned my background in the Misti and added some colour to the stamp with my Arteza brush pens and just kept adding different colours till I was happy that the colours reflected Autumn trees.

The sentiment came from the same set and I think it may become a favourite!

Thanks for looking today. x

October Mid Month at Stamping Sensations

The 'Trees and Leaves' challenge is half way through at Stamping Sensations, so here is my reminder post.
We are sponsored by Stamp Addicts and full details of the wonderful prize are shown over on the challenge blog - please follow our rules so you can be in with a chance of winning!

Having done a bright rainbow card for the start of the challenge(which you can see here) I have reverted back to traditional Autumn colours for this one!

I randomly sponged some Antique Linen DI over a piece of card first.

The stamps are from a Stampendous set called 'Summer Leaves'.
Used Tea Dye, Rusty Hinge and Dried Marigold and the fern stamp was inked in Bundled Sage.

The script stamp is from Indigo Blu and is second generation stamping with Pumice Stone.

Sponged the Pumice Stone lightly round the edges and stamped the sentiment and a tiny leaf onto some cream vellum and heat embossed.

Matted onto Kraft card before placing on the cream base card.

If you haven't already done so, stamp up a 'Trees and Leaves' project and come and join us! The prize is worth having!

Am sharing my Autumn Leaves over at
SOS - Pumpkin Spice
Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - Stamp It
Let's Create - A/Goes with option Fall Colours

Happy Crafting! x

October Challenge at Stamping Sensations

This month our Stamping Sensations challenge fits in nicely with Autumn as it is -  'Trees and Leaves'.

We are sponsored by Stamp Addicts and full details of the wonderful prize are shown over on the challenge blog - please follow our rules so you can be in with a chance of winning!

My card has been inspired by the colours from 2 other challenges -
(Pin)spirational (pic shown here on the right) and Colour My Heart Dare #362.  (Photo at the end of this post)

Using a piece of bright white card, I heat embossed the leaf stamps (which are from the Altenew Spring Bouquet set) before inking over it.

After inking the background I spattered some water drops and mixed some gold Perfect Pearls with some water and spattered a few tiny drops.
This has given a little shimmery effect to the tiny gold spots.

Matted it onto black card before fixing it to the white base card.

I added a white heat embossed sentiment from Technique Tuesday.

Hoping that you can come and join in with us this month at Stamping Sensations.

Have a great day! x

CAS Watercolour October Challenge

CAS Watercolour is celebrating their THIRD Birthday🎂🎂🎂 this month (time has certainly flown!). Loll is hosting and she has set the challenge of  'Maple Leaves'. 

So here's my card!

I coloured some watercolour card with Distress Inks in shades of Rusty Hinge, Fossilized Amber and Spiced Marmalade and then die cut 3 maple leaves.

A stitched frame over another piece of watercolour card (a scrap but I thought the colour blended OK) and then arranged 2 leaves and cut the third up and tucked it behind the frame.

The die cut and the stamped sentiment is from Technique Tuesday

If you play along this month you will be in with a chance of winning a prize and all you have to do is create a card with a watercoloured Maple Leaf ( or Leaves) and make sure to keep your design CAS (clean and simple) with lots of open space.  Simples!


There's a few Autumn themed challenges about so am sharing my card at -
Die Cut Divas - Fall Colours
HLS (Watercolour) - A/Goes/Botanical
Stamplorations October CAS - Shades of Orange

Thanks for looking today - have a great weekend! x

Back

I had a terrible job of dragging myself away from the wonderful warm sunshine and beautiful sandy beach that we have enjoyed for the last couple of weeks.... home to wind, rain and the heating on!😢

I have a make to share though -  a card made for the stash box  and out of leftovers!

The 3 stitched rectangles were the middles from some frames I cut out for other cards.

I stamped and white heat embossed the leaf ( from the WOW Flights of Fancy set) on some other scraps and simply watercoloured.

Layered them to the rectangles then layered the rectangle to the card base.
A quick make!
 
The dew drops are maybe a little large? But they're all that I had so they will have to do!

Popping into the Playground to see what everyone has been up to whilst I've been away and also linking to -
SOS - Dream the Embossable Dream
Crafty Gals Corner - Fall Colours
Cardz4Guyz - Trees or Leaves

Thanks for taking the time to look at my blog today - hope all is well in your part of blogland! x

Mid Month reminder!

It's mid month time and here's a little reminder from me of our challenge of 'AUTUMN COLOURS' at Stamping Sensations.

We have the wonderful STAMP ADDICTS as our sponsor this month - we are very lucky to have such great sponsors of all our challenges and if you want to be in with a chance of winning then please follow our rules which are shown on the blog.
We are a stamping challenge and stamping HAS to be the focal point of your entry.

I needed a Thank you card in a hurry so this is what I came up with.

Really quick with a masked off inky background and some copper embossed leaves.

Matted onto dark brown before popping onto the base card.

Was a little unhappy that the sentiment stamp was not as crisp as I would have liked but couldn't fiddle about doing another sentiment to put on top - the card was in the envelope before the ink was dry I think!!😉

If you've not yet joined this months challenge, there's still time!

Stamping Sensations October Challenge

This month our challenge is 'AUTUMN COLOURS' at Stamping Sensations.
I love Autumn - love sunshine and warm summer days too - but the colours of Autumn are often spectacular and I love to drive along looking at the changing colours of the trees.

So it will come as no surprise that I chose to use a tree stamp!
It is from Stampendous and is another of my rarely used ones.
I stamped it onto watercolour card using Coffee Ranger Archival Ink.
Out with the Distress Inks - Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber, Peeled Paint.

The stamp is a large one and I thought about a sentiment on the front but decided against it - I remembered that I had these leaf buttons from years ago - took me longer to find them than it did to make the darn card! Found eventually and attached with a little bit of string.

We have the wonderful STAMP ADDICTS as our sponsor this month - we are very lucky to have such great sponsors of all our challenges and if you want to be in with a chance of winning then please follow our rules which are shown on the blog.
We are a stamping challenge and stamping HAS to be the focal point of your entry.

Hope you can find the time to join us - and please take a look at some of the DT's creations - they love visitors!


I am linking up at -
PB&M - Autumn Splendour
Allsorts - Trees/Leaves
Crafty Calendar - Autumn
Alphabet - N for Nature
Daring Cardmakers - October Elemental Inspiration Pic

A week gone...

So much for me having time to come and idle away in blogland!
A week has gone by since I last posted, although I have found time to do a few things at home.
I made lots of mess 😁😁 with Pixie Powders and Brushos on watercolour card and have made a couple of cards with some of the backgrounds.

We are currently enjoying a lovely spell of warm weather and I am loving watch the trees change colour.
This inspired this card really -
A variety of dies used on one of my inky backgrounds and they have a lovely glimmer to them in real life.
The paper behind the circle die is stamped in Vintage Sepia and the stamp is Hardwood from SU.

The sentiment is from Inkylicious, heat embossed in Copper onto a scrap of vellum and slipped behind the circle cut out.
A few Antique Copper Pixie Powder splashes onto the plain white card and a little brushing with Tea Dye round the edges and done.

Lots of Autumn themed challenges about -
Allsorts - Autumn Glory
Creative Moments - Autumn colours
Die Cutting Divas - Fall colours
Alphabet - N for Nature
Crafty Gals Corner - A/Fall
4 Crafty Chicks - Happy Fall Y'all
MAWTT - Fall colours

I hope the sun is shining wherever you are and as always, thanks for popping in to visit - I really appreciate you all. x