Winter Berries, shy Jay's and flocks of Swans

Apologies to my teams that I'm late posting, post was prepped days ago but somehow I put it into draft and with rather a lot going on didn't realise. Holly, my right hand girl has deteriorated quickly this week, Vet who did the op in August assures me she's not in pain, her tail wags as much as ever and she wants food but can't keep it down, it's heartbreaking getting to 'that' decision.

It's the 18th of the month so mid way inspiration at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations with Christmas themes at both. 

Above a fairly new to me Penny Black stamps, the sentiment wood mounted, nice that some can still be sourced (Buddly Crafts), a masked frame with some soft stencilling and the focal image inked direct to stamp using Ecoline pens. I would like to link up with this one at Craftalicious's optional Christmas traditional colours and Farmquest Christmas.

My one make of the week, yep still very slow going as I'm far from out of the woods yet and due in hospital for treatment in a few days. It's for one of our Son's and wife who love garden birds and especially Robins so an easy choice. All stamps, stencil and masks are Lavinia. I used snippets to stamp the Robins and vase a second time to paper piece so popping to the Playground. Added crackle glaze to the vase. I've not used the colours of the inspiration at Beautiful Blossoms but do have a bouquet of flowers.

Above my snippets.

Finally another Penny Black stamp, pretty CAS for me, stamped coloured and cut into three and a die cut sentiment. Linking this one to 12 months of Christmas.

I made the above especially for Jo's Just Add Antlers theme at Christmas Kickstart and really though I had added to a post and entered, on checking clearly not, so better late than never. The pine branch is AALL and Create and all other stamps are Lavinia, Versafine Clair inks and Pan Pastels for the shading. Run Rudolph is the song title at Christmas Cards All Year Round, my Reindeer is a rather serious fellow but hope he fits. Aud Sentiments option is Christmas/Glitter and sentiment, the berries are sparkly as is the snow on the trees.

Jay's are so pretty but very shy, we know we've had them living in a hedgerow for years but rarely see them. But the other day parents and juveniles were all out feeding on the carpet of acorns under the big Oak, I wasn't quick enough to get a photo of all together but did manage some individually (taken through the kitchen window on phone so not that clear).

A good number of Swans spend Summer on the Fen drains and this time of year gather before heading up to Welney Wash where they Winter. The first picture a distant shot just up the Drove and the second another flock on a field in front of the house.

Winter Robins and Mice

First my thanks for all your kind messages, nothing new to report as tests ongoing, being greedy having four autoimmune conditions it's a bit of a complex cocktail. I'm hoping I might feel up to some proper crafting and blogging very soon. 

Today sees new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where we seem to have Christmas as the theme at both!  Prizes from Stamp Addicts at SS and an assortment of Christmas themed stamps and dies at WLS.

Above a mixture of Lavinia and AALL and Create stamps featuring Bobby and Jemima, the Robins that seem to be favourites with lots of us, entering at Peace on Earth ad Jingle Bells (snow) November challenges.

Using several stamps from the new Fealight Chronicles release, my one finished card of the week - along with a full waste bin. Linking to Country Christmas at Heartsquest challenge and think the little 'Meece" will fit in at Crafty Animals and Critter Crazy.

Another Christmas wreath I'm afraid, this one pre spin tool so not quite as symmetrical as I might like, all stamps are Lavinia and Versafine Clair inks. Girlz Creative have a new challenge which is always Christmas and it's the same theme at CRAFT.

Finally, today is reveal day for the October Card Chain Challenge, this is the card I sent to Wendy in Ireland following the colour option, Fairy, Trees and Glitter. Sparkles challenge has an Autumn theme as does Four Seasons and at Dragonfly Dreams the November theme is Feminie and another for the Autumnal palette at Colour Dare.

Bumble Lodge

Morning all, a week fraught with frustration, iMac crashed, luckily the Genius Bar guys managed to recover some info to load into a new machine but takes so long, especially when your not firing on all cylinders. On a positive note an almost instant referral starting with Iron Infusion in a few days, then another consultant later in week to try and stabilise my Pernicious and associated issues. I'm told the infusion will make me very tired initially, but realistically can't be worse than recent weeks, I've collapsed a couple of times so need to get sorted. So it will be blogging and crafting if and when.

It's the 18th of the month which means mid way inspiration at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where we have Autumn themes at both. Prizes come from Lavinia Stamps and Personal Impressions.

As with my last post, with the exception of the last share, everything is from my 'just in case' archives. Above a little forest scene using Lavinia Bumble Lodge, Creeping Vine, Wild Summer Flower, Orchard Grass, Slender Mushrooms, Fairy Path, the large Fairy is unfortunately long since retired but remains a favourite. Cards4Galz have the theme For a Little Girl, think Fairies fit the bill.

For this one an Autumnal wreath (made before I became addicted to my new Sizzix Spin and Stamp) using Ecoline pens direct to stamp which are Tim Holtz Leaf Prints and Sketchy Leaves. Words are A&C. The theme at Card Concept is Autumn Days and it's also Autumn at the Unicorn Challenge.

Tim Holtz leaf stamps again and inked in the same way as above, words from same source. Card4Guys would like to see Autumn card so linking up there.

And I also have a card for Jo's Snow Alert theme at Christmas Kickstart challenge and it's also a Christmas theme at Simon Say's Wednesday challenge and Farmquest Christmas.

A pretty simple little snow scene with some of my favourite Lavinia Hares from Whimscal Hares small and large out in the snow, looking in wonder at the North Star. Trees are Red Pine and at the top Christmas Mistletoe.

One final share for Beautiful Blossoms challenge, this is a new make using my new Spin and Stamp, Lavinia stamps and focal Penny Black quote, they have a lovely Autumn photo for inspiration, I've tried to carry the oranges and blue. Focal Sentiments are the requirement at Word Power so linking up there.

Autumn yet again

Morning all, time for our new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations. At WLS our theme is 'Anything Autumn, chosen by me and at SS.....you guessed it the same again!!  Prizes come from Lavinia Stamps at WLS and at SS a super £25 store voucher from Personal Impressions.

As I mentioned the other day I love creating for Autumn so in my element and have two for both challenges. Above a lolly stick plaque, spritzed with oxide sprays, a beautiful but very old Hero Arts Wheat stamp embossed with copper EP, lots of leaves across the top using Tim Holtz Sketchy Leaves and along the bottom Tiny Toadstools, the randomly stamped script is from the same set. Creative Artist's challenge is all about Mixed Media so would like to enter this there.

The starting point for the above card was a large maple leaf inked with Autumnal colours, spritzed with water and used as a stamp to create the background. I then stamped the scene with Lavinia Pipin, Wild Hares, Small Pine Trees and Every Dream and brushed in a few hills to ground everything. The theme at Crafty Catz is Autumn colours and at Inkspirational there is a mood board, the moon and woodland feel stood out for me.

Here we have Gus the Owl perched on Vine Branch, an inky background, Moon and stencil to created the spots then more stamping with Leaf Spray, Seed Heads and Oak Leaf Branch to build the scene. At Craft Rocket the theme is Autumn/Halloween, at Outlawz Festive Friday there's a seasonal choice, I've gone with Autumn and at Colour Dare 671 they have a colour palette of orange and yellow shades so entering my Owl at these.

Mr Rabbit had to make an appearance again, this time in Autumnal fashion, the tartan is a stamp within the set and the leaves around the edge are from the same set used on the lolly stick plaque above. At Festive Friday it's select at least three from their list, I've gone with checks, white, encouraging sentiment.

Dream

Morning all, it's mid month inspiration time at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where our themes are 'Make it Cute' as chosen by Mervi and CAS as selected by Helen. Prizes are House Mouse stamps from Oakwood and stamp sets from Grafton Crafts.

Above another Colorado Crafts image, one of a very few cute stamps I own, it's called Lots of Love, stamped coloured and cut out with the coordinating die and placed onto a background scene created with various Lavinia stamps. Double D has the theme 'Make your own background' which is what I did here as per usual. As you like it  challenge asks for favourite dies and why, well they are not something I use that often but as mentioned below I've set myself the challenge to use more. These are a recent purchase and I'm rather enjoying them and made a good few cards with them. 

I've used a Penny Black stamps called Lustrous, inked with Ecoline pens, stamped twice then one cut to give four sections to place over the base image. The sentiment is also Penny Black called Life, both a good ten or more years old. I've just been to Ellie's blog and this seems to fit her new I Spy CAS theme nicely and also Beautiful Blossoms.

Above is my Snippets Playground share, a few weeks back I set myself to challenge to be more adventurous with dies, whilst I did lots with them for TRR/Highlight that was much easier as they all have reflections artwork with them so no worry about dreaded colouring in.  Above the results using new Penny Black and Spellbinder dies, OK'ish but way outside my comfort zone. I scored the white panel and ran an inkpad down to carry the colour of the embossed panel, stamped a sentiment then arranged the die cuts. Afraid I forgot a photo, so keen was I to clear up and move on to some stamping! But I will admit it was a great way to use up lots of small pieces of Bazzil cardstock which I've been hoarding for far too long.

Gift Exchange and The Blood Moon

Morning all, time for our new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations. At WLS our theme is 'Make it Cute as chosen by Mervi and we have some House Mouse stamps from Oakwood to be won, at SS Helen has selected CAS as our theme where prizes come from Grafton Crafts.

Above I've used Colorado Crafts Gift Exchange, first time with their stamps, bought this and another set, I thought they would appeal to Margo as she loves anything with animals. The tree is Lavinia as are the flowers to build up the scene for the focal pair of cuties.

The focal flower is from Visible Image plus a little extra stamping using worker stamps, the flower stamped, coloured and die cut with a section of the flower outside the panel. A Birthday sentiment from a set sourced at Amazon and matching envie. The Alphabet challenge has the them of CAS as do Sparkles challenge, so would like to enter both. 

It's funny how some things go full circle, back in 2009 a lady who used to travel miles to come to my classes called Laurie (aka Designer Diva) was one of the DT's at Moving Along with the Times challenge and through her I was invited to join the team. However Allsorts had started just a couple of month earlier, craft challenges were a whole new ball game back then so I decline at the prospect of creating for two......how things change! 

Here we are sixteen years later (and much older in the tooth), Helen has taken over from Wendy to run the challenge and invited me to join. This time I said yes and above is my share for the current challenge of Butterflies and/or Dragonflies which started a few days ago. I was late to the party, but work will be posted on 1st of the month in future. Colour Dare challenge has a colour duo which this seems to fit perfectly and Ellie's I Spy is Sunny Colours this time, looks sunny'ish to me.

The Butterfly is Visible Image, repeat stamped with three colours of Element inks, the sentiment from same set as above and a splattering of gold Frantage which had a long overdue outing.

Couldn't resist a photo of last night's Blood Moon, it was a lovely clear evening at dusk as it rose over the top paddock.

Bootfull of blooms and Fairy magic

It's mid month inspiration time at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where we are focusing on Birds, Bees and Flowers at SS and Flowers at WLS, with prizes from Personal Impressions and Lavinia.

Both makes from a few weeks ago, above using TH Stampers Anonymous French Garden, a stencilled base layer, berries from the same set as Daisies, a torn page from an old book sprayed with Oxides. The flowers stamped, coloured and cut out and popped into A&C boots and some faux grass. Lots of snippets so popping to the new challenge at the Playground. I don't have a photo of my snippets so ready for a spell on the naughty step.

What is probably my favourite Lavina Fairy Zemira, I say Fairy but she doesn't actually have wings. An inky background and distant fantasy town stencilled and masked sun. Zemira is releasing her Flutterbies accompanies by Jaylar and the scene built up with Bluebells, Leaf Spray, Fairy Buttercups and Vine Flourish. Four Seasons challenge theme is Anything Summer and that big sun suggests it's definitely Summer on my scene which follows on nicely for the Create a Scene theme at Cards 4 Galz.

As mentioned Saturday, due in hospital for a couple of days but that's at the back of my mind with Holly so poorly and dreading the vet this morning.

Dance like no one's watching

A new month means new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations. At WLS our seasonal theme of Flowers has been selected by Hilary and we welcome Personal Impressions offering a £25 store voucher to our lucky winner. Whilst at SS Carol has selected something equally seasonal with Birds, Bees and Butterflies which happen to feature on the Lavinia stamps as prizes.

For the above card I used Tim Holz French Garden, there is no indication of the type of flowers but to me they look like Peonies so I've gone with a traditional colour for their blooms. An inky background and leaves stamped roughly where I wanted to place the flowers which were stamped onto inked offcuts, cut out and paper pieced. The quote is my favourite from Penny Black and the stitching another TH set called simply Stitches. Finally an envelope to match. I don't have a photo of the offcuts but am hoping I can still pop to the new challenge over at the Snippets Playground, also Ellies Garden Party and new to me Glitz of Art Letters 'F' which of course if my Flowers,  finally Triple B, mine is Blooms.

A Lavinia make using Moss Flowers stamped into a circle, masked and some worker stamps in-between, flowers coloured with pencils, then Twila stamped in the centre and some of the Bees from Bumblehums. To use just part of a stamp place a piece of masking tape over the parts you don't want, ink, but don't forget to remove the tape before stamping....sometimes I still forget and ruin everything. The sentiment is another real oldie wood mounted from PB, I went searching to discover when it was made as I seem to have had it forever, was 2001, the one at the top is newer 2010. 

Festive Friday is celebrating National Honey Bee Day and would like at least three items from their list on entires, I have Flowers, yellow, black and Bees. Tic Tac Toe, my three elements are sentiment, summer and any colour and also Sunday Stamps with a colour palette, three required.

Margo who will be four in a few weeks and Penelope who is seven had their first Gymkhana last Sunday and at another today. Seems rather young to me, I must have been five or six before I started but times move on! We weren't sure how she would take to it, but her face says it all, only downside seemed to be when the judge gave the first rosette to her, she answered "that's not my favourite colour"!! Her Mum was mortified but doesn't think the Judge heard, lets hope not because she may well come up against here again.

Many thanks for your visits, always appreciated and for your kind words about Holly, I will update after her surgery.

Ocean view

A new month means new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations. At WLS our theme has been selected by Emma and is Sun, Sea and Sand and a prize from Lisa Horton Crafts. At SS Avril has selected Summer Blooms for her theme with prizes from AALL and Create.

For my WLS share I have used a Penny Black stamp called Paradise (40-691), inked direct to stamp using Ecoline pens, extra colour and shading added with pencils and Pan Pastels, a stencilled sun and a Lavinia sentiment.

This one uses AALL and Create Roadway Vista die set (78) and Sunny Splash (1250) stamp set, an inky background picking up distress ink from a piece of acetate left from a previous background, then some stencilling and colour added to the focal image with Ecoline pens.

Have a good Sunday everyone, they say the heatwave in the UK is returning this week so keep cool.

Nature and a black Lab

June is speeding by and already it's mid month inspiration time at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where we have prizes from Buddly Crafts and themes of Nature and Furry Friends.

At the top the Anniversary card I made for eldest Daughters Anniversary, they have a black Lab called Evie so she had to feature on the card. I've used a mixture of Lavinia and AALL and Create with Versa Clair inks to create the scene, I stamped the Lab with versamark and heat embossed in black EP to give in depth. 

There's lots of heat embossing on the one below but lacks the floral elements so entering the above garden scene into the Flower Challenge which also has some heat embossing.

This one has a focal panel built up with small chippies, inked and stamped with a variety of small stamps, covered with two coats of UTEE, a base card with some stamping and stencilling using texture paste coloured with one of the inks used on the panel.

I've been taking photos of garden wildlife and planned sharing today but time's got the better of me as in hospital for treatment again, so will hopefully add to Saturday's post.