Rosie dees challenge week 45

Another great week at Rosie Dee's challenge, it's been great blog hopping to look at all your creations for our Sympathy/Thinking of You theme. Here's the full reveal of my DT card.

I have kept it very simple and light. The main image is Magenta41017.K, stamped and embossed with versafine black ad clear embossing powder onto a Glimmer Misted background of lemon zest and pearl. I stamped a second time using black stayzon onto acetate, cut out the two large flowers and butterfly, glittered the back and decoupaged. The DP is Basig Grey, some black pearls added and lines scored around the base card to add definition.

Magenta elegance

This is likely to be the last 'proper' post I get round to before we take to the high seas until 17th August.........but I have done lots of scheduled posts so by the magic of Mr Blogger you should still see some new stuff arriving here every few days. Unfortunately I wont have Internet access so aplos I shall not be visiting any of you until we get home........I was hoping to take my laptop for that purpose, but the idea didn't go down too well with my family.......can't imagine why.

The one I am sharing here is from the new sample board created for Sir Stampalot last week using some of the elegant Magenta stamps they have for sale along with My Minds Eye DP's, plus a little bit of Basic Grey. The image has been made up using six of the stamps in the Magenta CSET29 set, all are butterfly orientated and include several inchies.

I arranging the stamps on an acrylic block then stamped out on to the Basic Grey DP using Versafine sepia and embossed with detail clear. The butterfly stamped onto vellum is also from the set. Scalloped borders were pounced using Fiskars threading water punch and some ribbon and pearls added to embellish.

Stamp Addicts Christmas Show

Don't forget to tune in for Stamp Addicts new Christmas show tomorrow at 11am on Create and Craft TV, Ideal World and Freeview.

The stamps in the show are all from JudiKins and here's another of the samples I made for the programme. The snowman stamp is JudiKins 3084H which has been simply coloured with Marvy pens and some snow added with JudiKins snow white glitter. The mats are cut with nesties and the greeting is some mirri card run through the cuttlebug using the Christmas greeting folder and the DP from my stash.

Passion for Promarkers

The colours for this weeks Passion for Promarkers are "Pastel Pink and Cool Aqua plus a sketch". The colours work really well together and the pink is almost a salmon colour.

I have gone botanical and used my new Magenta 14315.0 from Sir Stampalot a week or so back which I promised to do samples with.......well I did manage a couple and then sort of got sidetracked with more new goodies, so thought I should give it another airing.

I guess using Promarkers this way does not offer the opportunity to blend them in the same way as on a larger area, but I quite like the effect and they colours match this My Minds Eye DP so well. After stamping with versafine back and embossing with detail clear, I cute the circles out with Nesities through the bug, stamping the smaller flower several times more to cut out and decoupage.

The sentiment is from Hero CL288........yes I used one from the set yesterday as well after rediscovering the set filed in a wrong stamp drawer. The scallop edge was made using Fiskars threading water punch, some ribbon added, pearls here and there and I also diamond glazed the large flowers. Oh nearly forgot, leaves yet again using my new L-Em punch from the same source as the stamps.

Cupcake challenge

Cupcake challenge this week is "Green, pink, brown with animals and flowers". So another chance to use my new L-Em.com punch from Stampalot for the leaves........in case nobody realised, I so love this punch.

Just goes to show I might have too mush stash because I found this stamp and honestly can't remember buying it or even seeing it before. It's Inca 4009K and is really cute, can only think it got to the bottom of it's allotted drawer and there it stayed. I stamped with versafine sepia and embossed with detail clear hen cut out the image with Nesties on the Bug. I used Promarkers to colour the image and decoupaged the daisies and glittered the centres. The greeting os from Hero CL278 and DP is Paper Piazze and Scrappy Cat. Border was cut with Firkars threading water punch.

Stamp Addicts new Christmas show

A quick post this evening to share another of my cards for the new Stamp Addicts show which you will be able to see live on Ideal World/Create and Craft/Freeview 36 at 11am on Thursday 30th July. The show is a Christmas one and will feature some fab stamps from JidiKins.

Same snowman JudiKins 3084H which I used on the cards I showed a few days ago, but this time masked so now we have Mr and Mrs Snowman in their pink and blue scarves which were coloured with Marvy pens. It's snowing by the magic og Judikins snow white glitter ........ can't recommend this enough, it really is brilliant and I also used it on the bottom using a heavy dose of Art Institute dries clear glue so as to achieve a bit more dimension. I have simple matted the image onto some dark blue glitter paper.

Rosie Dee sneak peek

Here's a sneak peek of my DT card for the next Rosie Dees challenge.

All DT work will be revealed along with the weeks theme on the challenge blog, so make sure you go check it out so we can all come visit your blogs.

New toys

Funny how you come back from craft shops with things you never remember picking up ....... would you believe it happened to me yet again at Stampalot yesterday ....... figure some of you have experienced this strange phenomena as well ? If anyone has actually worked out how it happens please share, otherwise I shall just carry on in ignorance and guess it will continue.......how awful would that be.

So some of this new stash, well for starters there are some new inchies, then some Fancy Pants DP and a very nice bird stamp so figured I'd better force myself to try some of them out and this is what I came up with.

I stamped the bird Magenta 41014.I and three of the inchies from Inkadinkadoo 98852 (these aren't actually the new ones - they have dogs and will share them shortly) with versafine sepia onto the lighter side of the new Fancy Pants DP which is pale blue with little flowers. I cut a border using Fiskars threading water punch, laid this reverse stripe side up and cut the bird and matching mat using nesties through the bug. Gave the new L-Em.com leafy fern punch another outing punching from the same DP, added some flowers, ribbon, gem and button to finish and little pearls with the leaves although they don't seem to show up in my picture.

Penny Black challenge plus more

Good morning everyone, an early start after a super days teaching at Stampalot yesterday and a yummy new punch I am going to share with you shortly (and they still have some in stock if you 'need' one). We had a fun day and the girls created some fabulous work - one of two were reluctant when I said we were going a bit messy, but persuade them all to partake in a bit of inky stuff with Tim Holtz distress inks, watercolour card and lots and lots of water. Think some of them will be trying it out again today at home.

Still trying to catch up on absent posting of new work, so starting with this weeks Penny Black challenge which has a recipe "3 ribbons, 2 flowers and a charm/pin. This was easy to tie in with yet another great sketch over at Friday Sketchers and Stamping for the Weekend which asks you to use masking on your card.

So, where do I start, the masking I think which is using the tree and teddy stamp from Penny Black 30-304. Teddy and the flowers were masked then the tree added and both stamped with versafine black and embossed with detail clear. I coloured in with Marvy pens, was going Promparkers but I'm still finding it slow going with them and need to take time and wanted to get this one done and posted. My DP is a really pretty double sided one from October Afternoon and I also punched my two flowers from that. Now the leaves, these are cut from the lovely new punch Andy at Stampalot acquired for me, it's from L-em.com and is so like the MS one I have been hankering after for months but which doesn't seem to be available in the UK.

Finally added the three ribbons in graduating widths, some buttons those punched leaves oh and yes, the charm.

Allsorts challenge 11

Morning folks, challenge eleven is with us at Allsorts and this week Kirsten has asked Dawny P to create us one of her fab sketches. Those of you who follow some the the other challenges will know Dawny P is famous for her sketches and she certainly hasn't let us down with this one and it's combined with the twist of 'Chocolate and Marshmallow' to get your taste buds salivating.

I really enjoyed this one even if I did have a calamitous start ........ created a card I was really happy with, but in shades of green ! It's all this holiday excitement........yes cases down from the loft and lots of neat piles waiting to be packed ....... only downside is that I keep saying "don't wear that, find something old"....... by Friday the family will look like tramps if I get my way.

Enough blather, down to my card in the correct colourway. My image is Penny Black 3982K stamped twice with Brilliance orchid and chocolate, cut into three ........ yes I know I did this last week, but it goes with what I want to achieve with this one which was to ink each section with versamak and then iridescent embossing powder. My DP is a double sided one from Chatterbox, the centres of the flowers are pink, but afraid you can't see too much of them. The greeting is Hero A4981 cut out with nesties on the bug and pearls added to finish.

Rosie Dees Challenge 44

Week 43 of Rosie Dees challenge followed this months "Occasions" theme with Babies and today is the reveal of projects on DT blogs.

Not the sort of cards I seem to make often these days so it made a nice change and keeps the mind alert.......not easy some days I confess. The image is one I have had for years and does not have any name or reference I'm afraid. I stamped it in versafine black and embossed with details clear and did a very small amount of colouring with Promarkers. The DP is a pretty double sided one from Chick-a-Dee and the border was cut with Martha Steward doily lace punch, a button, flowers, gems and ribbon added to finish.

Sir Stampalot classes

More classes at Sir Stampalot tomorrow using My Minds Eye DP's, Hobby Art, Hero Arts, Penny Black and Inkadinkadoo stamps. Here are a couple of the samples I have designed for the class and which the girls will be making.

The main image on the top card is Hobby Art FL1910E, stamped with versafine sepia and embossed with detail clear. The flower at the bottom left of the card has been made up using the smaller flower stamped out three times and layered up to create the single bloom. All flowers have been lightly coloured with Marvy pens and glittered using a quickie glue pen and crystal glitter. The buds have been cut on Cricut storybook and the dots on the main image traced with liquid pearls.

The second card uses the large bird stamp and buds from Hero Arts CL3318 and again stamped with Versafine sepia and embossed with detail clear. The buds were stamped onto he same My Minds Eye DP's and cut out - a bit time consuming but will keep the girls awake !! The frame is cut from Bazzil using a nesite frame run through the bug and the edge the reverse of the PD punched with Fiskars threading water.

Inspirational Card Sketchers plus........

I am such a fan of Dawn B's sketches and this one for Inspirational Card Sketchers is no exception especially as it's not dissimilar to a design I often use on my demo and class cards (one for classes at Sir Stamplaot using My Minds Eye DP's is due an airing this week). And a first for me I have managed to incorporate four challenges into one, in honest this is a bit of a cop out as Creative Card Crew has the theme "Polkadots", Everybody Art Challenges "Dots and Stripes" and Spoonful of Sugar rounds things up nicely with "Swirls".

I have based my card around these very pretty coordinating DP's from Scrappy Cat, stamping onto some of the cut sections with Hero Leaf Flourish F5042 using Stayzon black. The swirl has been cut on Cricut home accents, inked with Adirondack acrylic dabbers and dipped in crystal glitter whilst still wet. Buttons, ribbon, slide, flowers and gems added to embellish.

Create & Craft sneak peek & Cupcake challenge

As I'm not very productive on the cardmaking side of things at the mo, thought I would share a couple of DT samples for next weeks new Stamp Addicts Christmas Programme ........ 30th July, don't forget to put your TV on to record. As this is the first airing of these cards I am using the lilac and acetate card at the top of this post for this weeks Cupcake Challenge where the theme is Christmas Cards.

All stamps used are Judikins and will be available from Create and Craft and of course Stamp Addicts........ hopefully I won't get shot for saying this, but I believe they may even be available from them direct now.

Have to be honest here and say I made these cards 2/3 weeks ago and shipped them off to them so having trouble remembering from my photos exactly what I did, but these are pretty straightforward so hopefully no misinformation. On the first one I stamped 3073 onto heat resistant acetate with versamark and embossed with detail silver. The snowman is 3084H stamped onto nesties cut on the bug, coloured with Marvy pens and placed on the inside of the card so he shows through the snowflakes.

The second card uses the same happy snowman, this time stamped simply with black versafine and embossed with detail clear, coloured with Marvy pens (was still waiting for my Promarkers then) and glittered with JudiKins snow white glitter - this really is brilliant for snowy scenes, it's larger granules than regular glitter and really does do a great 'snow' job. DP is from stash and the edges were done with Firkars threading water.

Me, lost for words ?

Never thought I would see the time when I was totally and utterly lost for words twice in the same week. But it's happened and it's all down to a kind and generous blogging buddy. I'd love to tell you her name, it's the least she deserves for such kindness, but she wants anonimity and I respect that. In her mail to me when I asked if I could add a bit to my blog she said:

"They weren't sent to make me look kind and generous. They were sent to reward you for being so brave and uncomplaining and to make up for the world being a bit of a bummer to you at the mo. I simply wanted to make you feel a bit better".

She has succeeded, because they have so cheered me up and throught this post I want to say thank you so very very much, it seems inadquate for such a wonderful heartfelt gesture. I adore all flowers........figure this is pretty evident from my work and as you can see, these ones are absolutely beautiful.

For those of you not up to speed........it's seems innapropriate to keep rattling on about this ongoing jaw/teeth sage day in and day out - I want you to enjoy coming to my blog, not frighten you away with horror stories.......so breifly, second batch of high strength antibiotics still not working and the infection got so bad over the weekend that 6am this morning the hospital carried out a horrid procedure to put a drain into my gum - I'll say no more that that - promise........ except I can't talk much and there's great relief abounding here........dinner with no mention of distressing, challenges or anything remotely crafty. That has to be a first.
All I will say about the person who has sent these flowers is that we share a mutual love of Penny Black stamps....... seems a more than adequate basis for a friendship to me and as so many of us love PB stamps, it can't shed any light on the generous blogger.

Stamping for the Weekend and Friday Sketchers

Afternoon all, bit light on the postings afraid this weekend and apologies that I've not been doing my blogging rounds as I should, but spent good deal of time at hospital yet again, not going into details suffice to say not nice and painful. And looks like more rain and if the BBC can be relied on it won't be much different for the next few days........ only upside as far as I can see is for the horses, the grass it growing like a triffid. And I guess it's just what the Aussies were hoping for as we had them on the rack at the weekend (I'm on cricket now) and now they smell a draw. (Update - we won !!)

I'm combing two challenges here, this weeks nice sketch from Friday Sketchers and Stamping for the Weekend which is based on "Rock and Roll and offers three song titles and you must depict one in your card - I have gone for Tangled Up in Blue by Bob Dylan........confess I don't remember this one, but in the 70/80s I had other things on my mind apart from music - try a new baby or four for starters ........ but ask me about Queen and some of Freddy's greatest moments and there would be no problem........strutting his stuff at Wembley in those oh so snug white shorts with frayed edges (yes I was there) that yellow tee shirt and not forgetting the white skin tight jeans, ermine cloak and crown, oh my, what Freddy couldn't do with a mic stand isn't worth remembering........oh I could go on for ages on this one, not that I'm an eternal fan or anything you realise......... put it like this, if Verdi or Andrea Bochelli's not on my i pod, Queen is the rest of the time.

Now, anough waffle and on to my card, the image is a Sarah Kay which I have coloured with Promarkers. The DP is Daisy Bucket and Sandylion. Leaves are cut on Cricut storybook, inked with Tim Holt china blue and heat embossed with iridescent powder and the Hero Arts flowers have been inked with the same TH ink and versamark then embossed with detail clear giving them Always About Colours Chris's 'peanut' treatment.

Rosie Dees sneak peek

Today sees the launch of week 42 at Rosie Dees challenge which continues this months theme of Occasions with "Baby" cards and projects.

All DT work will be on display on the challenge blog tomorrow, so please do follow my link and check it out, have a go and look forward to visiting your blogs and leaving a comment.

Another Stamp Addicts sneak peek

Well, it's only just over a week until the new Stamp Addicts Christmas programme - 30th July on Create and Craft, Ideal World and the new Freeview channel 36.

Here's another peek at one of my sample cards for the programme. This one is using the Judikins bolio stamp - just a section of it - as the main image, stamped and embossed with versafine black and clear powder. Coloured in with Marvy pens. The semi circles are cut with nesties on the bug and I also stamped Judinkins snowflake v3073D on the base card with versamark and embossed with iridescent.

Allsorts challend 10

Good morning everyone, how time flies ....... doesn't seem possible it's week ten already at Allsorts ........ which must mean only two weeks to my hols ....... getting so excited, cases down from the loft this week. So need to get well ahead next week and schedule some posts and do DT work so I don't need to take my laptop - did have a mind to take it but strictly forbidden I have been told in no uncertain terms. Ah well, perhaps be able to slop off into the cyberspace for an hour here and there.

Back to Allsorts and we are so pleased that you keep coming back to show us your fantastic creations and of course a chance to win some of the great candy that has been on offer. This week Emma has set you a bit of a challenge - use only one of everything, so that means one image, DP, flowers, brad or whatever else you decide to use on your project there can only be one of each. And what about the prize on offer this week - a two week guest DT spot for one lucky person. Good or what ?

For my DT card I have gone for one of my favourite stamps from Hero Arts - S5033, which I have stamped with versafine black and embossed with detail clear powder onto a Glimmer Misted background of lemon zest and lily pad. I cut my image into three and mounted onto black cardstock then green which I punched along the bottom with Fiskars threading water. Even I nearly got caught out here as I was going to add black gems between the holes, then remembered - only one !

The strip of DP is Kaiser, the scroll cut on Cricut home accents, inked with Brilliance thyme and embossed with detail clear. I coloured the flower which was ivory very lightly with the same green brilliance ink, added a button and a piece of wire and ribbon round the image.

Rosie Dees challenge 42

The theme at Rosie Dees challenge this week has been Weddings and today is the day the DT can share their work which had a sneak peek preview last weekend.

My cardstock is pearlescent which picks up the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing nicely on the bottom half of the card. The swirls is from Inkadinakdoo 97632 and the sentiment JukiKins both stamped with versamark and embossed with Sprinkle and Sparkle palm green embossing powder. The blossom was cut from Cricut home accents and the borders bunched with Martha Stewart embossed scallop on bazzil and pearl vellum. Finished with marching ribbon, gems and a beaded stick pin.

Thank you for the award

Bit of a non productive day I'm afraid, the jaw/teeth sage continues and two days of hospital, but won't bore with details, suffice to say not felt much like crafting. But there's some work scheduled for tomorrow so will at least be something new then.

I did try a card earlier and was actually pleased with the result, only to remember that there was a specific colour scheme required and mine most definitely was the wrong colour, so back to the drawing board on that one.

But I do want so say a huge thank you to Shirley and Zoe for sending me two lovely awards, even if I have been a bad blogger the last few days. I know I have to do some passing on but hope you'll forgive if I don't deal with that today. Just hope the storms that seem to have been going in circles for the last twenty four hours abate soon and we get back to something resembling summer........we live in hopes but this is the UK I guess, so anything goes.

Passion for Promarkers

The colours to be used at Passion for Promarkers this week are "Ruby and Gold with the added twist if jewels and gems".

This card is I admit, very similar to one you may have seen before, but it is different, just a style I like and find I return to ........ at least it's not Agapanthus Cluster yet again ! Seems every time I use my new promarkers I find out something new about them. When I do this block background using Hero 2545 I usually use either Marvy pens or distress ink then spritz it to give the watery effect I like to achieve. So as I wasn't sure if this would count as another colour, I decided to see how it would work with promarkers and it did ........ instead of adding the colour to the stamp first, I spritzed it with water first then randomly added gold promarker into the water, stamped quickly onto linen cardstock and hey presto - it worked !

My main image Penny Black 3815J was stamped over the background with versafine sepia and embossed with detail clear, then coloured in with the two permitted colours and diamond glazed.

To achieve the scallops round the edge I used a acetate template cut on Cricut plantin schoolbook and chalked. The vellum was punched with Martha Steward doily lace, ribbon added and a stick pin using beads etc., from Spellbound. Finally, liquid pearls and some gems to embellish.

Inspirational Card Sketchers

My first card of the day is for Inspirational Card Sketchers, another of Dawn B great sketches to follow.

I started with another of the new Penny Black Christmas stamps 3984K available now from Sir Stampalot with one my favourite messy techniques ....... what better way to start the day than elbow deep in inks, glue, acetate, an old book and kitchen foil ........ anyone who wants to try this out I go into it detail here.

The oval and swirl were cut on cricut Plantin Schoolbook and home accents. I stamped over the top oval with Magenta crackle background 32090M with Stayzon sepia and Hero script writing with H2365 and Tim Holtz tattered straw. I also roughed up the edges of the oval and distressed with the same TH ink. The scroll was stippled with Adirondack gold acrylic dabber. The greeting is Art Impression F3143. DP is from stash and gems added to finish.

Creative Card Crew

At the risk of boring you all silly ........ particularly as I constantly say I don't make Christmas cards until November ........ how could I not make an exception when these goodies dropped through my letterbox from Sir Stamaplot - part of the Penny Black pre release Christmas products.

The first one here is for this weeks Creative Card Crew challenge which is "Create a Scene". Perfect for this Christmas tree which I love already. The code is Penny Black 3997K which I have repeat stamped in versafine majestic blue and embossed with detail clear. My background has been Glimmer Misted with midnight, grey a minimal spritz of patina and pearl and before spraying I masked a circle for the moon and some splodges ........ this is now one of my official crafting terminologies....... of masquepen to create the stars. I have to confess when I was first given this to try out I had reservations as to it's uses, but the more you use it the more you like it - you simply apply the splodges where you don't want colour, then add you colour medium going right over the splodges, then simply rub it away when your colour is dry.

The greeting is from Penny Black 30-018 stamped onto vellum with the same blue inkpad and the scallop border and corner is Fiskars threading water (or it might me treading water, I really don't remember - someone will put me right I'm sure), some star gems, ribbon, button and glitter across the moon added to finish.

Spoonful of Sugar and New Penny Black

Better late than never ........ had all good intentions of doing some more cards with the new Penny Black Christmas stamps freshly arrived from Sir Stampalot, but wasn't to be last evening ........ grief I must have been bad in a former life as it seems to be one thing after another. As if it's not bad enough starting the teeth/gum treatment tomorrow, last night I ended at at A&E with eye problems - they anaesthetised my eyes and say it's an infection in both eyes but assure me it has absolutely nothing to do with the eye drops they gave me during the tests yesterday morning.......hummmmmmm !

So a delayed return to playing with these new stamps which are now available for immediate dispatch from Sir Stampalot. I have incorporated this one into this weeks Spoonful of Sugar challenge which is a great sketch by Debbie.

The main image is Penny Black 3984K stamped with versamark and embossed with detail gold onto acetate. I have laid this over a piece of vellum onto which I stamped snowflakes from Penny Black crystaline set 30-018 using versamark majestic blue and embossing with iridescent powder. I have stamped the same snowflakes onto the background using the same ink and powder combination.

The DP is a piece from my stash, the diagonal border punched with Martha Stewart arched lattice and the holly cut from Cricut Christmas solutions and again inked and embossed as above.

New Penny Black part 2

Here's the next one from these gorgeous new pre release Christmas Penny Black stamps just arrived at Sir Stampalot (see previous post).

This one is 3982K Golden Leaves and although it's in the Christmas range, it really is too lovely to use just once a year and I can see no end of uses for it. On this card I have used a Glimmer Misted background of Key Lime, Gold and the slightest touch of patina, then repeat stamped with Stayzon citrus green and Versafine black. The greeting is from from Penny Black 30-304 and the butterfly good old PB 3819D stamped on to vellum with versamark and lightly coloured with Brilliance thyme.

After tearing the edges I distressed with Tim Holtz shabby shutters and also stamped the base card with the main image using versamark and detail clear, although that doesn't show up too well on my picture. I tied a piece of gingham ribbon and added a pin and a couple of beads. Oh and especially for Jules I'd better say that I added some stickles to the butterflies thorax's.

New Penny Black Christmas preview

Afternoon all ........ guess what ........ I'm soooooo excited ........ I know little things and all that ........ Christmas has arrived in the Fens. Andy and Janice at Sir Stampalot were up till the early hours unpacking and uploading to their web site the newly arrived Penny Black Christmas stamps. And I've got some sample to try out so of course I am going to share.
It's been driving me crazy because I had an appointment for routine eye checks this morning and they put those horrid drops in so you can't see properly for hours and here's me itching to get stuck in to these stamps. Well managed to see enough to get one done, it's pretty simple until the eyes clear properly........ but you can't wait forever can you. Have ideas galore going round so I'll be back with more later.

This one is using Penny Black 3997K - Majestic which I simply inked with Versamark and embossed with detail gold, added some gold Stickles here and there and shaded with Tim Holtz antique linen. The frame is cut on the Cuttlebug from a Nestie frame and the holly Cricut Christmas solutions, which I also inked with versafine and embossed with detail gold. Added a cord bow, a greeting using Art Impression G3152 and a couple of baubles which came off of a cracker last Christmas ......... who said I wasn't a thrifty crafter ? Everything used is available from Stampalot including the new PB stamps, so if you want to get hold of yous, give them a call and chances are they'll be with you tomorrow, or at last Thursday - no pressure here Janice and Andy.

Crafters are unique people

I've only ever had two true hobbies, horses and crafting. For years we 'moved' in the 'horsey' community, still do to some degree, but believe me there is a distinct difference to those who circulate in the crafty world. No offence is meant to our lovely equine friends, but in my view 'crafty' people really are unique. Where else do you meet people who are willing to share their talents, be happy if you like their work and want to create something similar and offer what I believe to be truly genuine comments about each others work. In today's world such sincerity is rare.
So what has brought all this on, well I have thought this for some time, but today prompted me to commit my thoughts to paper or should I say blogland. A blogging friend and fellow crafter Christine of Craftings Cosy Corner send me a beautiful thank you card and I was truly taken back........ you will see my card made by Chris on her blog. What promoted this card ........ well, last week Chris put a post on her blog asking if anyone knew the details of a stamp. I did as I had it so gave her the details, but when she searched found it had been discontinued, so I did what lots us would do, stamped her up some images with that stamp and a few with one of a similar style which I thought she would like and posted them off thinking no more about it.

So I want to say a huge thank you to Chris for her thoughtfulness. I have put a link to her blog above, please check out her work, it is quite unique and wonderful and I have already done a spot of scraplifting.

As usual I can't do a post without a picture so am sharing one of a beautiful orchid that we have on flower at the moment. It is a special orchid as it was my Dad's who some of you will know died at Christmas.

Penny Black and Cupcake challenges

Well first off I have news to share, just discovered that I made the Cupcake challenge Top 5 again this week, so thank you to all the team for selecting my card for their Black and White theme, it's a style I always enjoy.

I am combining two together with this card, Penny Black challenge which is "Swirls" and Cupcake this week is "Blossoms and Butterflies" which to me follow similar genres.
Lots of stamps used and of course some messy elements. The background was sprayed with Glimmer Mists lavender fields, lemon zest and honey dew mist, with a mask put in place before I sprayed to create a moon........I have some lovely coloured grass in my garden as I tend to do my spraying in the garden when it's dry.......doesn't everyone ?

The castle in the distance is Artstamps F0047M inked with Tim Holtz dusky concord, stamped off a couple of times before stamping onto my GM's piece of cardstock to give a faded effect. Flowers across the bottom are Penny Black 3948K inked with brilliance, lilac, thyme and gold and some stickles added at the end to highlight the flower heads. Penny Black swirl 2642 K has been stamped here and there again with Brilliance lilac and the little fairy is Rubberdubberdoo (it's wood mounted but there is no number), stamped both onto the main card and onto vellum, glittered and decoupaged.

The butterflies are Penny Black 3819D, stamped onto vellum and shrink plastic, which were coloured with sakura pens before shrinking. Leaves across the top are stamped with Art Impression F2055 using Brilliance thyme and the main card was stamped with swirly background Penny Black 3878F using Versafine purple and iridescent embossing powder.

Stamp Addicts Sneak Peek

Good morning everyone, Monday and my desk seems to have a backlog of work ........ just goes to prove you can't have fun and be up to date on your crafting. But we did have an enjoyable weekend, one of your sons and his fiancee too us out for a meal on Saturday evening to the Bell at Stilton (yes where the cheese originally came from) - a late birthday meal as I wasn't well enough on the day. The food and service were faultless ........that's really something coming from me who usually finds something to send back to the chef.

So head down and catch up on some proper work as well as some crafting and in the meantime I'm sharing another of the samples I made for Stamp Addicts Christmas programme due to be screened on 30th July ........ don't forget to make a note and set your TV to record. The stamp is JudiKins 2084H, stamped with Versafine black and embossed with detail clear, coloured with Marvy pens and some snow added with JudiKins snow white glitter (try this out it's more dimensional than normal glitter and works a treat). The DP is from my stash and the edge done with my MS arch lattice punch.

Rosie Dees sneak peek

Time for this weeks sneak peek of my card for the new challenge on Rosie Dees tomorrow.

Don't forget to check the challenge blog tomorrow evening to see this weeks theme and look forward to visiting you all to see your creations.

Friday Sketchers

Afternoon all and a follow on from yesterdays post Friday using the new Magenta stamp 14315.O which Sir Stampalot asked me to create some samples with. This one is a bit of a lengthy process, but I will share it as that's all part of this blogging business.

This time I have used it in a totally different way following this weeks super sketch from Friday Sketchers, which is very 'me' nice and symmetrical. Quite a lot of elements used here, but real fun and a bit messy too ........ right up me street. I stamped the image onto a piece of ivory linen cardstock using Tim Holtz spiced marmalade, then while it was still wet brushed gold perfect pearls over which gave me a nice shiny finish but with some of the orange still showing through. I then spritzed the piece with Glimmer Mists gold and terracotta and finally roughed up the edges and distressed with more of the TH ink.

I used the same stamp again onto a pieced of tan cardstock stamping with versafine brown and embossing with detail clear, then bleached out the flowers ........ the bleach worked really well on this card, it's always a bit hit and miss as they all react differently, but I was really pleased with this finish.

The butterfly and swirls were cut in Cricut home decor/accents, and 'splodged'.......this is most definitely a technical terminology.......with Adirindcak acrylic dabbers copper and gold. Finally a band across the middle punched with my MS embossed scallop, a button, some raffia and some gems ........ swarovski ones so this card must be for someone special - ah just remembered, it has a home in Peterborough !

Rosie Dees challenge

This week saw the announcement of the new DT team at Rosie Dees challenge, to which I was luck enough to have been selected. Doo go check them out and have a go.

My DT card takes on a slightly vintage look although that was not the intention originally ....... I coloured the butterfly with Twinkling H2o's and it sort of went from there. The image is from Artful Stamper 11785m it's a stamp I've had for years, so not sure if it's still available, but the swirls are spot on for the current crafting trends. The image was stamped twice onto ivory linen cardstock using Versafine sepia and clear embossing powder. I tore down a section round the butterfly and distressed the edges then overlaid as a spotlight matching the swirls. I roughed up the edges of the main piece, ran versamark along them and dipped into detail gold embossing powder.

The leaves were cut from Cricut Storybook, the flowers are from a punch and all were coloured with the same Twinkling H2o's, then overstamped with Hero H2365 to add a but of dimension, then pearls added to the centres. The greeting is Woodware FRCL128. Finally, I added some ribbon and a small stick pin with matching pearls from Spellbound.

Allsorts challenge 9

Goodness me, it's week nine already at Allsorts, time flies when you are having fun. This week Debs has set the challenge with a great sketch and there's some super dupa candy on offer from our newest sponsor Stamp Addicts, who also have a new show due to be aired on Create and Craft this week ........ scary I know but it's a Christmas one.

Following Debs sketch I have created a card using a set of Inkadinkado inchies - 98852. I stamped them with versafine majestic blue onto a piece of Basic Grey DP and embossed them with detail clear, then matted them onto a piece of dark blue cardstock. The borders are using my new Martha Steward doily lace punch........isn't this just the prettiest one in the range ? The greeting is Penny Black salutations and the circles cut with nesties on the bug. Main background DP is Daisy Bucket and the striped one again Basic Grey. Finished off with some ribbon and buttons.

Stamping for the Weekend

Well, what can I say, me and my big mouth, why opt for an easy option when it's so simple to make it tough. During my visit to Sir Stampalot ........ yes just a few cream cakes today to make the coffee go down ....... I indulged in some more Sarah Kay and was on my way home to play when I spied a rather nice looking new Magenta stamp 14315.O ........ oh says me "I can use that for this weeks Stamping for the Weekend" ........ so that was it, my challenge from boss man Andy ........ that'll teach me to check out what the challenge is before I jump in with both feet ....... because check I did when I got home ........ it's "Strawberries dipped in Chocolate" and here's me with this lovely new floral stamp.

So, think outside the box here girl, red, brown, earth colours. I took a piece of ivory linen cardstock and randomly stamped with Versafine sepia and Brilliance red using Hero script H2365 and art script G2678, Magenta crackle background 32090M and Inkadinkado swirls 97682, then the main Magenta image which I stamped three times, onto the cardstock, red bazzil and acetate, cutting each layer slightly smaller. I punched three strawberries ........ they were not obligatory but thought why not, overstamping them them with Creative Expresion JN28 to give the effect of the seeds - this came as part of a set years ago and I think this is it's first outing, clearly it was intended for this purpose.

I inked some tiny leaves cut on Cricut storybook with Brilliance ivy and thyme and embossed them with detail clear and arranged the strawberries. Finally I stamped Hero A4981 onto shrink plastic for the centres of the flowers - I've been meaning to get this little stamp for ages and finally did today.

Tomorrow I'll do some more with this lovely stamp.

One for Stampalot

Morning all, just sharing a quick card I've done for Sir Stampalot. DP's are My Minds Eye ........ yes, I'm still in love with them........ layered over ripped bazzil. The flower in the centre was cut from acetate on Cricut home decor and edged with gold Krylon, a small flower punched for the middle and a brad inked with versamark and embossed with detail copper to match the DP.

Some cord and a bead have been wound round and a swirl from Inkadinkado 97632 offstamped with Brilliance chocolate. The greeting has been stamped witht the same ink using Woodware FRCL 128. That's it folks, off to that craft shop at Peterborough for some indulgence now.

Inspiratonal Card Sketchers

Before I move on to my card, thought I'd better update you on my second opinion this morning as lots of you have kindly asked. Whilst nothing is certain at this moment, they have agreed the previous guy's proposals were rather radical ........ I'll say, removing all my front teeth. Lots of xrays which they are going to assess with a view to starting remedial treatment next Thursday. To be honest I haven't asked too many questions, prefer not to know exactly what they are going to do, sufficient for me at this point to know they are going to try and repair the damage to save my teeth, rather than take what they called "the easy option" suggested last week. So I am more than pleased that I pressed for this second opinion.

On to my card which is following another super sketch on ICS this week, a bit different and lovely to work with. I worked a bit in reverse with this one as I had decided I wanted to use a DP from Fancy Pants ........ two weeks stroking is enough I think ? I cut the top band and bottom tab using Cricut storybook, then laid a piece of the reverse across the middle of my base card which is a nice limey green which picks out the buds on the DP.

The image is Stampendous N152 stamped with Brilliance med blue and olive, I then inked the whole piece, which was an offcut from my main card, with versamark and embossed with detail clear giving a nice sheen to the image. All finished of with some blue cord, flowers, buttons and gems. All in all quite a quick simple card.

ABC Challenge

It's turning into a bit of a flutterby week as I've gone wings again for this weeks ABC challenge which is "V for Vellum".

My butterfly which is Creative Expression HH269F is stamped onto vellum twice then glittered ........ I often make up batches of butterflies and explain in more detail here how I make them up for anyone who is interested.

My DP here is My Minds Eye, the scrolls were cut from bazzil using Cricut home decor and the two little 'dots' are the bits that came out of the scrolls when I lifted them from the mat, I thought they sort of added a bit more interest and carried the colour.