All aglow

Good morning everyone, time for a new challenge at Allsorts where Helene would like us to 'Light up the Night'.

Afraid my blogging is still restricted to short five minute bursts so I've not got very far in visiting you all. They tell me resting my eyes especially from the computer screen, is the only cure as far as the muscle imbalance goes, so I have been testing their theory all week and doing what I am told. Although nothing was stopping me from my demo day at Stampalot today, even if it's more talk than demo and we are off shortly........hubby is driving me as I dare not test my eyes that far. The Ultimate Rubber Stamping event is becoming a regular in the crafty calendar and always great fun.

I confess to a huge blast of inspiration from Barbara Gray on this card. I always find her inspirational and her use of the Clarity Stamps lamp post and lady really cast a spell over me and this is my take on what she did.

I started by inking the lamppost and lady, with the lady stamped a second time onto some scrap DP. I used a very large makeup brush to swirl Adirondack archival black in circles round the lamp to give the impression of fog, then sponged some Tim Holtz mustard seed to create a glow from the oil lamp. I added some JudiKins snow glitter and a couple or corners.

I added a fence using Art Impression F3047 and leaves using Art Impression F2055, Lavinia fantasy houses, but I just inked the tops of these stamping off first so I ended up with a mist rooftop look in the background.

My vision if this card is a lady on Christmas eve, just leaving Church after midnight mass looking into the village in the distance.......I've never made any secret that I like in a fantasy world have I ? This card is also for the following challenges:

Cupcake - Light it up

ABC - Ice is for ice and snow

One more share using Sweet Pea Poinsettia Fairy. Another easel card stamped and embossed image, coloured with Copics, decoupaged and glittered wings, a Spellbinder frame, Magnolia DP, flowers and lace. This card is for the following challenges:

Flutterby Wednesdays - Open

Sweet Pea - Silver, purple and white

Moving Along with the Times - Someone special (For a Granddaughters Christmas birthday)

Stamp Insanity - Lace

CRAFT - Christmas Birthday (see above)

Penguins galore

Challenge time at Allsorts again where the lovely Emma has given us a great sketch to work with which I used to go all Penguiny....absolutely sure that's not a word but sounds good.

But before I share my card for this week, a reminder that there is still time to join in our sister challenge at Penny Black at Allsorts where the the theme is "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas". Lots of prizes on offer so please do pop over and join in.

I have made a card and matching box for a special grandson who loves penguins. The main image is Hero Arts K5260 Three Penguins, stamped and embossed three times, coloured with Copics and decoupaged onto a circle but with Nesties. The DP is Three Bugs in a Rug, punched snowflakes and a computer generated personalised tag sentiment. This card is also for the following challenges:

A spoonful of Sugar - Snow/snowflakes

Creative Cottage - Someone special at Christmas

ABC Challenge - H for Holidays (Christmas)

Secret Crafter - Sparkle and shine

Sweet Stamping - All about snowflakes

My next share is using another of the new Molly Blooms Christmas stamps........and another of those easel cards.......I really love this one and I think she looks just as good in her summer clothes. I used the My Minds Eye DP to paper piece her dress and placed her in a circle window cut with Nesties. I stamped Stampendous CRR123 into the window and added some punched butterflies as well a a corner using the same Martha Stewart punch. The sentiment is Penny Black 4075F. This card is for the following challenges:

Stamping for the Weekend - Sketch plus butterfly/s

Something Completely Different - Wings

Flutterby Wednesdays - Window card with wings

Crafty Creations - Buttons

Christmas and Autumn

Saturday means a new challenge at Allsorts and this week it's yours truly's turn to host the challenge and I have come up with a Christmas colour theme - Gold and Cream with a hint of red.

I used so many stamps and embellis on this one that I'm not even going to start to list them, but I really did enjoy making this one. As you might imagine it's quite large, like 12 inches square so I have passed it along to Stampalot as a sample card as I think it's a bit big for general Christmas giving. This creation is also for the following challenges:

Glitterbabes - Anything goes

Fussy and Fancy - Winter Wonderland

Stampavie - Christmas

Totally Papercrafts - Bling it on

My great teamie Fliss has chosen the theme of Autumn at Polkadoodles this week so of course I loved making this one. I used the yummy Autumn section of the new Sundae of Seasons CD - I think all the DT are in love with this CD - acorns and leaves all re-sized and cut out to decoupage, a frame made with a Nesite using papers from the same collection and flower the same paper using my tattered floral die and liberally spritzed with glimmer mist. This card is also for the following challenge:

Crafty Creations - Halloween or Autumn

Going spotty

We are going all dotty and stripey at Allsorts this week where Debs is hosting the theme.

I have used this sweet little girl Penny Black 40-027 Warmest Wishes, coloured with Aquamarkers and decoupaged with three layers. The sentiment is Penny Black 4116H, the DP My Minds Eye and the swirls are a Marianne die. This card is also for the following challenge:

Lots to Do - Easel or shaped card

Challenge up your Life - Easel card

Enfys would like us to welcome a new baby at Polkadoodles this week, so another opportunity to use another of the elements from the great new CD Sundae of Seasons. I love this cute little bear which I printed our several time to decoupage. Papers from the same CD, Martha Stewart punched border and corner and sentiment again from the CD. This card is also for the following challenge:

Paper Sundaes - For someone little

And my final share of the day uses one of the new stamps from Sweet Pea The Silentness. I stamped her with Memento black, masked her then brayered..........it occurred to me that I mask moons and suns so often, why not add a few stars as well, so this is what I did on this one using Big and Juicy hydrangea. I coloured the image with Copics, glittered the fairy wings and stars, added some swirls cut on a TH big die, a flower made from the same Daisy Bucket DP and pearls and ribbon to embellish. This card is for the following challenges:

Sweet Pea - Easel card

Colour Create - Purple, aqua and white

Flutterby Wednesdays - Open them (with wings of course)

Secret Crafter - Manga style (Is this Manga style ? - Hands up, I'm not sure girls)

New Molly Blooms and The Witching Hour

Good Morning, hope everyone is ready for the weekend, whatever you have planned. Lets hope the weather is kind.

I picked up a couple of new stamps at Sir Stampalot this week........well more than a couple if I am honest, needs must and all that and I do have an upcoming class and demo day to consider.........

I fell instantly in love with this lovey scene forest scene CRR 123 from Stampendous which I stamped onto gloss cardstock using stayzon, then used a versamak pen and clear embossing powder to highlight the tree trunks, houses and tiny trees. I added a little watercolour to the roofs and small trees then brayered using the lights end of Big and Juicy soothing sunset. The embossed areas resisted so I could buff up to make them show through the brayered colours.

The image is Molly Blooms MB00341, one of the new Christmas range recently released by Sir Stampalot. She is coloured with the same B&J inks and decoupaged. The frame is a Nestie and the DP My Minds Eye. This card is for the following challenges:

A pocket full of posies - Autumn leaves
Stamplaing for the Weekend - Halloween or Fall

Crazy4 Challenges - Fall

At Allsorts this week Helene would like us to play Bingo. This is a new theme to me but it has been great fun to work with.

Two cards from me, the first following the 'flowers, lace and tag' row on the Bingo board and using what I think is an Inkadinako stamp......no codes anywhere.....which is stamped and coloured with Aquamarkers and Copics. The DP is Cosmo Cricket and the poinsettias are made with punched from red vellum.

My second card follows the 'flowers, pearls and ribbon' row. The image is Rachael Anne Miller, coloured with Copics and cut our on Nesties. The paper was provided to the DT by this weeks sponsor Robyns Fetish. This card is also for the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts - Autumn

Something Completely Different - Orange and Black

This week at Polkadoodles, Ruth has given us the theme "Something Spoooooky". I so hoped someone would come up with this one as I love the Halloween section on the new CD Sundaes of Seasons. I'm not big on Halloween usually, but this CD changed all of that, thanks Nikky.

Don't you just love the witch ? I enlarged and printed out some spooky trees onto an A4 piece of cardstock, then decoupaged the witch, toadstools and leaves to make a scene. Created an arched window from acetate and added a couple of dangling spiders. This card is for the following challenges:

Everybody Art - Halloween

Creative Craft - Trick or Treat

Cute Card Thursday - What's Buggin' you (spiders)

Our house in the middle of our street........

...............by Madness and my take of Amanda's great theme at Allsorts this week - Take Inspiration from a Song Title. So a perfect opportunity to share a card a made recently for a demo day at Sir Stampalot.

Before I tell you about my creations, a reminder that Penny Black at Allsorts has lots of prizes to give away this month. The theme is Autumn, a nice easy one so please pop over and join in the fun.

This card was sheer indulgence to make and I won't even start to list the stamps I used beyond the little houses which are one of the Christmas 2010 sets from Hero Arts CL464. Some shrinky, some masking, decoupage, diamond glaze and so on, but if anyone wants details of anything specific please drop me a mail. This card fits the following challenges I hope:

Anything Goes - Christmas Has Come Early

For Fun - Never Used (the little dogs - had the stamp years)

My second share, well two actually is for Polkadoodles, where Lou would wants us to make our own embellishments.

I already had the angel card loaded, but when I saw the new CD just had to do another. I don't usually 'do' Halloween, but the images and elements in the new ????? CD changed all that and I really love all of them. The haunted house is pre coloured and I enlarged it and used acetate to create a window, cut out the vampired who is also pre coloured, then cut leaves and pumpkins to embellish, adding diamond glaze to give then a sheen. This card is also for the following challenges:

Simon Says - Halloween

By the Cute and Girly - Spooky

The Stampman - Autumn

Charisma Cardz - Autumn/Halloween

The angel is one of the new Christmas Doodle stamps, decoupaged and coloured with Copics. The papers are from Paper Boutique Creative Christmas CD, Martha Stewart arch lattice punch and some lace. This card is for the following challenge:

Stamp Something - Something Punchy

Travel Inspired

It's Kirsten turn to host the challenge at Allsorts this week and she has come up with the great theme of Travel/Holidays.

So the opportunity for a first inking up some of the images from Penny Black 30-023. I started by creating a background using Tim Holtz stormy sky, wild honey and Glimmer Mist iridescent gold. I stamped Pont Veccio, the famous bridge in Firenz or Florence as most know it as and the Tour Eiffel in black versafine and embossed with detail clear. I then stamped both randomly with the two TH inks.

Next I distressed the edges and embossed with detail gold and added some swirls around the edge with Hero Arts F5042 and Penny Black 3878F. I mounted the piece onto a mat edged with Martha Stewart round the page double loop, added some punched butterflies and some computer generated wording. This card is also for the following challenges:

Sweet Stamping - Punch it Out

Lots to Do - Vintage

My second card is for this weeks Polkadoodles challenge which Dee has set with the theme of Fancy/Interesting Folding. My card uses some of the images from the gorgeous new CD . This is a must have for you all and Nikky really has pulled out all the stops on this one. I love this acorn image and printed it our several times to decoupage and added leaves cut from from the same CD tied with raffia. The card was created simply on the scoreboard from a sheet of A4 cardstock and lined with a sheet of coordinating paper from the CD.

So many punches and DT call

Good Morning peeps and before I move on, I need to remind you all that there is still time to get your name on the list if you would like to be considered for our Design Team at Penny Black at Allsorts. All the details are over on the blog, so please do pop over and join in the fun. The new Design Team members will be announced at the end of the month.

Well, it's Saturday again which means it's Allsorts new challenge time and this weeks it's the lovely Fleur's turn to set the theme which is to "Use at least three different punches" on your work.

I have used this adorable image Penny Black 49-021 for goodness sake, stamped and embossed with versaine black and detail clear and coloured with Copics plus some leaves and flowers stamped around the image. The DP is Nitwits and the border punched with Martha Stewart eyelet lace. The large flowers are punched from two Marianne stencils and the leaves a Sizzix die. This card is also for the following challenge:

Secret Crafter - Anything goes

Over to Polkadoodles now where it is my turn to host this weeks theme and as I am still ashamedly addicted to this shape I would like to see Easel Cards.

I used Fairy Flutterby Gracie and papers from All Around and Everywhere CD to make an easel card. I stamped the image twice to decoupage her and coloured with Copics. Punched borders and corner using Martha Stewart eyelet lace and flowers and leaves from stash. This card is also for the following challenge:

Daring Cardmakers - Come fly with me (fairy and butterflies)

Magenta 2010 new releases and challenges

Good Morning everyone, firstly thanks to all of you for your kind messages about my health and entering my candy at the top of my blog.

I have been very good this week, followed doctors orders, had lots of rest and this is my first posting for days. But beings it it, I need to make the most of it and it's a bit of a long one so you might want to grab a coffee, a bar of Cadburys or even better both !

I have been doing a bit of crafty dabbling, just the odd hour indulging in some of the new Magenta stamp releases which landed on my doormat from Sir Stampalot this week. They have the stamps on line and ready to buy and there are some gorgeous ones, a mix of Christmas and others, so do take a look and there a few samples below.

As it's Saturday it's time for a new challenge at Allsorts and this week it's yours truly's turn to set the theme and I am going very seasonal with the theme "Colours of Autumn". And as I love working with the rich Autumnal colours, two DT cards from me this week.

For the first card above I have used one of the new stamps from Penny Black 40-037 autumnal gifts, I have probably said this before, but this stamp totally sums up this time of year to me and the Harvest Festival celebrations that will be happening in Churches everywhere. And perfect for a man as well, my Dad who was a farmer would have adored this image, so this is for you Dad.

I stamped the image onto ivory linen cardstock using versfine sepia and embossed with detail clear before colouring in with Copics. I used the top element of the stamp to add corn to the corner's of the card. I have no idea of the name of this shape of card, but it is so easy to make using just a scoreboard and Nesties and quite effective I think. Finally, I punched some leaves with the lovely new Xcut punches which also emboss the leaves so you can highlight with inks, I used a selection of brilliance. This card is also for the following challenge:

Penny Black Saturday - Male card

My second card used the clever stamp set from Lavinina where you stamp first with the solid leaf shape then overstamped with the skeleton. I used Tim Holtx frayed burlap and rusty hinge. I then covered the leaves with Diamond Glaze, allowed to dry, then inked the whole piece, which is cut from Nesties, using TH sage, wild honey and barn door. I then overstamped the whole piece with Hero Arts H2365 old French writing, rubbing up the leaves afterwards to remove any ink. The leave have a lovey raised sheen, but it difficult to pick this up on a picture. Finally I tied some cord and added buttons and mounted onto a piece of Kaiser DP. This card is also for the following challenges:

Fab and Funky - Whatever

Raise the Bar - Orange, brown, green

Paper Play - Autumn is a coming

Next my card for this weeks challenge over at Polkadoodles where the boss Nikky is in charge again and has given us a sketch with a recipe and hidden twist.

I turned the sketch sideways and created a flap at the side with a greeting beneath using a Fairy Flutterby stamp. The paper is all from Paper Boutique and the flower made from the same papers using the Tim Holtz tattered floral die.

Now a couple of cards using the new Magenta stamps I mentioned above. The first one is a Christmas stamp Magenta 43032L Seasons Greeting which I think has a real Victoriana feel to it. A bit unusual having a rose on a Christmas Card, but perhaps it's a Christmas rose ! I stamped it with stayzon sepia and coloured with Aquamarkers. I stamped Hero Arts CO222 Music Background on the actual card using Tim Holtz frayed burlap. The DP is from stash and punched with Martha Stewart cornice border.......a little indulgence I could not resist, it's so elegant and I think goes with the theme of the image wonderfully. This card is for the following challenge:

Simon Says - Holiday Fun

My final card is using Megenta 95276N Field of Poppies.....I have always loved poppies so this was was a must have. I created a background with TH distress inks and water, then stamped the image with versafine black and embossed with detail clear. I added extra colour to some of the poppies with Copics then covered them with Diamond Glaze. The DP is Daisy bucket, I used the same MS punch as he card above and made a flower with my Tattered Flowal die.

Garden Inspiration

I'm really running late this weekend, I had this all prepared to go yesterday and Mr B's obviously got the hump with me big time because I only just realised the post was sitting there and not gone live as scheduled. So I have started from scratch so I can also add some challenges.

This week at Allsort's it's Helene's turn to host the challenge and she would like to to seek "Inspiration from a Garden or Park". For my card above, I used this lovely stamp Hero Arts K5366 Tall Birdhouse stamped with versafine back and embossed with detail clear and coloured with Copics. I inked some clouds and added stickles to the branches. The mat is punched with Martha Stewart double loop around the page using Doodlebug DP.

And at Polkadoodles the boss Nikky has given us a great sketch to work with. I used it literally as drawn using papers and poinsettias from the new Christmas Paper Boutique CD, decoupaged and layered onto mats cut with Nesties. A Martha Stewart snowflake border punch and ribbon to finish. Greeting on the tag is from the Jingle Jangle Christmas stamp set.

This card is also for the following challenge:

Secret Crafter: Make a Start on Christmas

And my third card (top of post) uses hero Arts K5363 Flower Trio stamped with versafine sepia and embossed with detail clear and coloured with Copics. I stamped round the edges if the main piece with Magenta 32090M crackle background and distressed with Tim Holtz antique linen. I stamped the three flowers a second time onto some DP from stash and cut out to decoupage. The leaves are punched from Basic Grey DP and some hessian and string tied across the middle.

This card is for the following challenges:

Sweet Stamping: Distressed Birthdays

Moving Along with the Times: Recipe

Candy to be won........four times over

The Summer Collection

30 sheets assorted DP's, Judikins, Inkadinkadoo, Magenta etc., stamps, Marvy markers and wet looks, flowers, cardstock, ribbons.

Good Morning everyone and yes I have some candy for my lovely blog friends. But there is a twist.........did you think I was just going to let you just add your name and hope, oh no........not that easy this time.

I know it's really really mean of me, but I was so taken with the little competition my lovely blog friend Lisa Jane ran when she went on her hols, I thought I would do something similar.......but unlike Lisa, I am going to make you work for the clues. So this is how it works........

The Christmas Selection

12 sheets K & Co plain and foiled DPs. Marvy Markers and Wet Looks, Stamps Happen, Inkadinkadoo, Funstamps, Anna Griffin etc., stamps, Flower Soft, cardstock, gems, ribbons, flowers, emboss powder.

I am going to be away for sixteen days on a brand new great big boat on the high seas, I'm not going to tell you where exactly, that would spoil all the fun, but I will tell you that I will be in the Mediterranean most of the time, or pretty close to it............

Floating Hotel

Our pad for the holiday will be a suite right at the top back.......where you can see the white corner section coming down the boat......our very favourite place on a boat where the views are fabulous.

On each of the Nine posts I have scheduled while we are away I will give you some clues and all you need to do is leave me a comment on each post with the answer where I am that day. It's a bit of a geography lesson, but I have Googled each one to check it out and the answers are all there for you, if you can't guess from my clues. And I have even added a picture or two to help you along the way. I will draw the winners on Monday 9th August.

Another Little Collection

15 sheets DP's, 10 sheets patterned vellum, assorted unmounted stamps, Keepsake emboss board.

There are four lots of candy up for grabs, a Christmas collection, a Summer collection and two smaller prizes to help spread the love a bit further. So four winners, which Random Org., will select from all of those who get the answers right. To be in with a chance this is all you have to do:

1) Leave me a comment to tell me where you think I am that day.

2) Do the same on each of the NINE posts as they pop up on my blog.

3) Be or become a follower.

4) Spread the word on your own blog and have fun.

And the Fourth Collection

12 sheets assorted DP's, Keepsake board, set of four Laura Ashley stamps.

I have really enjoyed putting this all together and I hope you will enjoy taking part just as much, the first clue will be tomorrow...........

But before I finish I must not forget our new Challenge at Polkadoodles where Enfys would like to see Christmas in July. This was a perfect opportunity to use the new Paper Boutique Christmas CD which us lucky DT girls have been playing with for a few weeks prior to it's launch at the end of this month. I made a stepper card, cut three different sizes fairies from the CD, added lots of glitter, stamped sentiment from the Christmas stamp set and a border punched from Martha Stewart embossed snowflakes.

Dancing horses

One of the famous horses and a couple of well fit trainers !

This is your last clue folks as we will be at sea now until we dock back at Southampton. We are at the region of the Dancing Horses of Jerez and the City that gives it's name to one of our favourite marmalade's.......oranges that is with two 'L's in the middle.

It's Kerry's turn to set the theme at Polkadoodles this week and she has given us a really great sketch to work with.

Hope you don't mind Stacey, but I have twisted your sketch a bit as Rudolph turned out a bit larger than I expected. All the elements are from Paper Boutique Christmas, Rudolph has been decoupaged, his hat is glittered and the snowflakes made using a Martha Stewart punch. The NOEL sentiment is from the same CD.

I will be sorting the candy winners when I am back home and will post all the details as soon as I can on or after 9th August. Watch this space.................

Eternal City

Today sees us in the Eternal City, seeped in history where gladiators once fought to the death something Russel Crow knows a bit about. A few pennies into the famous fountain above will make sure you return, or so the saying goes.

Despite visiting this City many times there is always something new to see and I never tire or returning be it for a week or a day. It really is my favourite Capital City in the World.

On to challenges now, first Polkadoodles where the boss Nikky has set our challenge and wants us to make something generic that will work for a male or female. She also wants us to use at least two Polkadoodle products on our project.

So I have made a word book spelling BIRTHDAY which I created on the Cricut using the DS and Plantin Schoolbook cartridge. I selected coordinating papers from Candy Doodles CD.........I just love this lime and black combo. I stamped the ladybird trail from the unmounted stamp set several times, cut into strips and ran them across the bottom of each page.

The greeting on the front is from the new Paper Boutique Christmas CD, I used the Zutter to create a spine and tied it with cord and raffia.........I am really pleased with myself as I just knew this lovely lime coloured raffia from the wrapping on some flowers months ago would come in useful one day.

Next candy clue is tomorrow...........half way there now.

July Romance

New challenge time again at Allsorts and Polkadoodles.................sorry Nikky, this one should have gone up yesterday, you can send me to the naughty corner.

At Allsorts Helene is hosting the challenge this week and has selected the theme "July Love" and would like to see a heart on our work.

So I have gone all pink using my heart Nesties which never really got a proper airing when I bought them earlier this year. The sentiment is from a Hero unmounted set.......typical me as I no longer have the code and the swirl stamped onto the My Minds Eye DP is Hero F5042 leaf flourish. The border is Martha Stewart embossed hearts with some lace, flower a button and ribbon to embellish. A really quick and easy card.

On to Polkadoodles and my teamie Enfys has chosen a Summer theme at Polkadoodles this week, so lots of scope there to get the creative juices flowing. Butterflies spring to mind after flowers with me when I think Summer, so I have used the Heritage section of Back to Nature CD, one of my favourite collections on the CD.

I re-sized the paper to achieve smaller butterflies and printed onto acetate. The border is punched with Martha Steward embossed butterflies and the large butterfly is cut with a Cuttlebug cut and emboss die using a coordinating paper from the same collection. Ribbon and a beaded pin to embellish.