Curls and Swirls

Challenge 17 at the Stampman is to add Curls and Swirls. The examples to give inspiration  are   gorgeous, please take a look here.
 My card base  came from my stash as did the bits and pieces. I used a Martha Stewart punch for the edges on  one of the layers. The main image is  from Tracy Coates Butterfly Beauties collection. The added colours are cosmic shimmers, I used a few layers of paint on the swirls.
Thankyou for stopping by to take a look, your comments are always welcome.

Three Squares.

This week over at Mandi and Chrissies, Less is More they have set us the challenge to add three squares. Once again there are some fantastic examples over there.

I thought maybe I might find this a bit easier,  how wrong could I be.

The squares weren't the problem,  how to place them was. I used the free flower stamp from Craft Stamper magazine,  for my main images  coloured them with cosmic shimmer paint and  layered one of them .The buttons came from my bits box. I used Shabby Shutters DI to shade the squares and the edge of the card.
Thankyou for stopping by to take a look, your comments are always appreciated.

Just for Fun

Week 4 and the new theme is Angel Wings. I love the examples  over here at Just for Fun. No pressure on what you do, just enjoy the making.

So what to do, so my  idea  of an ATC ended as a journal page.
The main image stamp is by Crafty Individuals and the words are from my new set of Tim Holtz. The background has been done over time when I was blotting stamps and  inks off my mat onto the page.

The wings I added to my angel I have a feeling they should be the other way up, but hey, I won't worry over it.  She is my take on the theme.
Thankyou for stopping by to take a look, your comments are always appreciated.

Stylish Blog Awards

Imagine my delight when Valerie left me a message to say she had a suprise for me back on her blog. It was this award. So after thanking her I read what accepting it would involve.
Here is the list of things to do
step1-   Link back to the person who gave you the award.
step2-  Share 7 random things about yourself.
step3-  Award 7 recently discovered blogs to this award.
step4- Contact those bloggers and tell them you have nominated them.

so 7 things about me.
1. I am happily retired.
2. Lucky to have been married to my soul mate for over 44years.
3. Have two sons.
5. Meg ,our border- collie  is the baby of the family
6. Love our touring caravan, which allows us to visit new places
7. Last, but not least,  my total love of  all things  Crafting.

My nominations for this award include  friends in blogland who have given me friendship and support over the time I have had my blog  .Especially those who gave advice and encouragement when I lost my first blog to many technicalities.  I just wish I could nominate more, but you know who you all are and I  thankyou.

So here is my award list, grab the  award and if you find the time pass it on.
      Caz
      Danielle
      Nettie
      Janet
      Joan
      Cuddlybunny
     Alison

C. of C. week33

Week 33 of the Compendium of Curiosities and not many more to do now. This week Linda has directed us to Page 56 and the delights of Altered Metal with Alcohol Inks. There are some brilliant examples using this technique over at StudioL3 For my piece, the first job was to emboss a piece of thin metal that I had been wondering what to do with for ages. As usual, what happened next can be found in the book.
When I did week 30  challenge, I said the piece I made was for an altered box. If you are interested, the finished box is here. 
Thankyou for stopping by to take a look, your comments are always appreciated.

Alter a Shoe Box

At Try it on Tuesdays our new theme is to alter a shoe box. This week we are sponsered by the Craft Barn.

       We also have a very special guest Designer, who is only 9 years old., please pop over and see what an amazing box she made, together with the other DT examples here.


My box did start off a bit bigger, so in true altering fashion I cut a piece off, so it would fit the content. Mind you I did have some fun getting it back together. I covered the whole box in Paper Artsy papers the new yummy Thordon Hall ones. The embellishment was made a few weeks ago for  the Cof Curiostities challenge week30

  Added lace, flowers and ribbon.  The finished box is for a gift and I hope the box maybe find itself used as well.

Thankyou for stopping by to take a look, your comments are always appreciated.

Shades of green.

I have just recently found this blog called  Stampin for the Weekend.  Challenge No4  this week is Monocrome, to use varying shades of one colour. There are some gorgeous examples to see on the blog.

For my card I used a mixture of papers for the background, the stamped rose is a favourite, that has long lost its makers mark. As you  can see green is a favourite colour of mine, the pale shades have photographed looking a bit beige, but they are a green in real life.

I also found another blog with a Monocrome challenge Stampin'B. via my friend Caz's blog.

Thankyou for stopping by to take a look.

Spring

Simply Less is More and week 3's challenge, 'Spring' Please go and look at the beautiful examples here.

It is not simple for me to make this sort of card, it takes me ages to suss  out, what stamp etc.etc.etc. Then I look at the result and think it looks so bare, but hey, what this challenge is all about.

For this card I used a Paper Artsy stamp, coloured it with cosmic shimmer paints, then edged the whole card with mustard seed distress ink. Please forgive the addition of the ribbon, but I did think it needed a little something.

Thankyou for stopping by to  take a look, your comments are appreciated.

Oh for the Wings of a Bug

The Just for Fun challenge  this week is our interpretation of the theme  'Oh for the wings of a bug'. There are some fantastic examples here.

The background is stamped with a variety of stamps, but the little boy on the herb tag is from  an Art Journey set . The metal tag I put through a brick wall  embossing folder and coloured with D.Inks. There is a ladybird crawling out of the vegetation,  one of the stamps from the Compos Matchbox set by Lovin Ink.

Thankyou for stopping by to take a look.

C of C week32

 

Here we are at week 32 of the Compendium of Curiosities challenge. This week  Linda has directed us to page  59  to explore the  technique of  'Inking and Stamping Masks'. You will find some super examples  over here at StudioL3.

For my tag I have used Tim Holtz stamps and a selection of Distress inks to colour.  As to the details, we are sworn to secrecy.

Thankyou for stopping by to take a look at my tag.

Blue Skys

The theme this week at Try it on Tuesdays is  The Skys the Limit, with a free choice as to how you interpret this challenge. Please go check out the super examples by the team and our guest designer.

For my card I used Elusive Images stamps, and pictured a sunny day at the coast. I used cosmic shimmer paint and various blue DI  to colour, with a border using a Martha Stewart punch.

Thankyou for stopping by to take a look at my card.

Romance

Challenge 16 's  theme  is  Hearts  over at the Stampmans challenge blog. There are fantastic examples over there.

For the stamped topper of the card I used an Elusive images stamp, with various others  to make a collage . It is coloured with vintage photo and dried marigold  DI. Other additions are from my stash, with a heart charm to add to the romance of the loving couple in the background.

Thankyou for stopping by to take a look at mine.

Whispers in the Wind.

Week2  for the Less is More challenge. There are some fantastic examples over there. 

This time it is a one layer challenge with the addition of  a tree or flower, together with a few words.

I used Shabby Shutters DI for the edges and the square behind the tree. The stamps  are by Crafty Individuals.  I have  resisted the urge to  add embellishments  to keep to the theme, this is proving very difficult as I always want to add more.

 Thankyou for stopping by to take a look at my card.

Dreams come True -GC90 Spicy Supply Challenges

I have made this card with the new theme at  Gingersnap creations in mind.   'Turn on the Charm'  Challenge.  There are some gorgeous example   here. Please pop over and take a look.

For the background of my card I used Papermania papers, the stamp is Paper Artsy, the bits and pieces came from my stash. The little fairy charm hopes your dreams will one day come true.

Thankyou for stopping by to take a look at mine.

Time Flies

The second challenge over at Just for Fun is Time with Wings.

The stamps I used are PaperArtsy, I just love this crazy bird.  Cosmic shimmers and  wild honey distress ink  to colour and a little embossing to age the clock face. This piece will be another wall hanging I think.

Thankyou for stopping by to take a look and visiting my blog.

C of C -week31

Another week and Linda has directed us to page  41 of TH's Compendium, to explore the wonders of Rusted Enamel. I loved this technique  and wonder why I haven't tried it before. Once again no clues as to how I did this.

 The  stamps I used  are from  Wendy Vechi's Homemade Art plate, sorry Tim, but the die cuts are your alterations plates.  There are some fantastic examples rusted enamel over at Studio L3.
Thankyou for stopping by to have a look at mine.

Hearts and Flowers and the Lovin Ink Blog Hop

Hello folks, welcome to my blog and the Lovin Ink Blog hop.

This is my tag for this weeks challenge at Try it on Tuesdays Hearts and Flowers, my choice of theme this time. The tag is made with a die cut shape, which I put through an embossing folder. The disc with the stamped image started life as a tin lid, the edges are highlighted with gold flakes.

    If you are enjoying the blog hop you will have arrived here from Janets.

The next stop on your journey will be to call at Pats.

First you will need to go and collect your next letter from here where you will find  it beside a heart symbol that looks like this.

Remember its Pats next

Good luck collecting your letters for the super bloghop prize

.

Thankyou for visiting my blog, its lovely to have you stop by.

ChallengesI may join with this tag

Challenge39 Hearts at Craftycard makers

Challenge9 Valentines Lets ink it up

Less is More

A new challenge blog to visit called Less is More set up by Mandi and Chrissie, where they are encouraging us to do things a bit more simply. I for one need to persue this, as I tend to want to keep adding more.

Thankyou for the tip about using lego blocks. So if you are curious about this tip. pop over ane take a look.
The theme for the first week is to keep to a colour palate of pink, white and black.
So my card base was easy, white. The stamping black,  using creative expressions wildflower stamp plate. Pink ribbon, sorry couldn't resist this addition, the pink square is spun sugar distress ink.
Thankyou for stopping by to take a look

GC89 Kings and Queens.

This months Chestnut theme challenge is Kings and Queens, there are some absolutely inspirational examples on the Gingersnap Creations blog.

I remember when working in school, the younger  ones loved to dress up and play in ther imaginary world of being a king or queen. I have made many crowns over the years.

Okay so the background is created with TH stamps, distressed ink and cosmic shimmers  to colour.  The images are some Zetti stamps I haven't used in ages. Great frocks I thought,  to wear  while waiting for the man of their dreams.

Think I am getting hooked on   journalling.
Thankyou for stopping by to take a look

Splashes, splodges and smudges.

Yesterday, the postie brought me the Art  Journal magazine [Somerset Studio] ,  the blog candy I was lucky to win  from Astrid.  Her  published article was fantastic and the whole book truely inspirational.

Journaling is something I am just getting started with and I have many, many miles to go and techniques to explore, especially my handwritting.  One thing I did learn as I read the magazine is that there seems to be no rules, so that suits my messy self down to the ground.

So paint at the ready. Nothing vintage in sight.  I gave it a go, its rather bright for me, but hey, its a special time of the year, with the 14th looming closer.  The words on one stamp I used  are, splashes , sploshes and smudges, which just about sums up the state  I was in  when  I finished the page.
There are a couple of challenges that fit these pages-
Just For Fun- the very first theme is Heartfelt Wings
Artistic stamper February challenge- Love is in the Air.
Thankyou for stopping by to take a look., next page I will try harder to be not so messy.

C. of C. week30

This week Linda  over at StudioL3 has guided us to page 48 of TH Compedium of Curiosities to explore the technique of Altering Metal with Paint. There are some super examples  over at Linda's place. We were all getting upset at the thought of this great challenge nearly coming to a close, but,  there is promises of more to come.Hooray.

I am showing you the piece I made against a  lace background , as I hope to incorperate it later as an embellishment  on  a shoebox I am altering,  as yet definately  this is still in the planning stage.
Thankyou for stopping by to take a look.

Feel the Love

The theme of the challenge this week  at Try it on Tuesdays is Love, Valentines day is coming and Love is in the air. Please pop over and see the super cards made by Joan our guest designer this week and the rest of my DT mates.

We have  a new sponser for this weeks challenge, One Stop Cards and Crafts.

For my card I used die cut shapes for the hearts and wings, embossed with gold and edged with gold flakes. One of the  paper layers is fromTH seasonal paper stack, real old fashioned valentine pictures. I used a Martha Stewart butterfly edger down the side.

Thankyou for stopping by to take a look.