Monday and another week is ready to gallop away!

Morning readers,

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend and that the chilly weather didn't spoil any plans you may have had.

I've a make to share with you today ...

My ATC, measuring just 3½" x 2½"

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in white and pink
• Montarga Stamps "bear with flower" image (from 2008) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils to colour my image
• Simon Says Stamp mask (from Spheres masks and stencils) used, with makeup brush, to apply Distress Oxide in kitsch flamingo - avoiding the coloured image
• With the mask in place, I overlaid my Pink and Main stencil (PMS106 "paw prints") before adding another layer of kitsch flamingo
• Stampers Anonymous sentiment (from CMS155) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Colouring with Pencils - Feb challenge - ANYTHING GOES (with coloured pencils)
2. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - challenge No. 2507 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Stencil Fun - Feb challenge - ANYTHING (stencilled) GOES
4. Critter Crazy - challenge No. 95 - ANYTHING GOES (featuring a creature) ... sadly this will be their final challenge
5. Polkadoodles - challenge No. 3 - ANYTHING GOES

TGIF peeps!

Morning readers,

I needed to make some tags, to match a birthday card so I set off for my ToC (that's Table of Craftiness) to do just that, it seemed prudent to make a co-ordinating ATC whilst I had the stamps, stencil, etc out and on acrylic blocks - check them out.

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in white and pink
• Picture This image (from "Little people too" - ref: 033) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils used to colour image
• Clearly Besotted cloud stencil (CBTCL349) used (with makeup brush) to apply Memento Bahama blue "clouds" to my background

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Creative Inspiration - challenge No. 23 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Stencil Fun - Feb challenge - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) PINK/RED
3. Shopping Our Stash - challenge No. 540 - CRAFTY REMNANTS
4. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - challenge No. 2505 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Simon Says Stamp - Monday challenge - BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL

And now for the two gift tags ... the reason I got these stamps out in the first place!

Identical gift tags, front and back

Materials used:

• Snippet of white card
• Paper Smooches Layering tag dies
• Picture This image (from "Little people too - ref: 033) stamped using Versafine Clair morning mist ink
• Faber Castell Polychromos pencils used to colour my image
• Hero Arts sentiment (C4633) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Clearly Besotted could stencil (CBTCL349) used (with makeup brush) to apply Memento Bahama blue "clouds" to my tag background

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. As you like it - Feb 6th challenge - Favourite: stamping/digi and why ... me I like stamping, it's more satisfying IMHO
2. Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - Feb 5th challenge - ANYTHING GOES
3. Everybody Art - challenge No. 572 - DIES and/or PUNCHES
4. Hand Stamped Sentiments - challenge No. 456 - Mood Board
5. A Cut Above - Feb challenge - ANYTHING GOES (with a die cut)

And the card it was to co-ordinate with? Here it is ...

Monday and we're in to February!

Morning readers,

I'm back! Did you miss me? As my regulars will recall, my mojo went AWOL around Christmas and I took most of January away from blogging, to see if it would bump start my mojo. A dear friend also sent me some happy mail and I wanted to use it before I put it away.

I also took a relaxing break away from the internet, with friends, at a retreat in Callington - which was great fun - pix further down. What with that and a couple of non-craft related catch ups with friends for lunches and coffees and I feel refreshed, let's hope the mojo is back and raring to go!!!

I've a make to share with you today ... an Artist Trading Coin.

Materials used:

• Snippets of card in white, textured blue and off white pearl 
• Nesting plain and faux stitched circle dies to cut my 2½" and 2¼" circles
• Using a makeup brush I applied Distress Ink in broken china to the white circle
• Adding the That's Crafty dinky stencil (TC146 - Jan 2025 - NBUS ... thanks Sarn) I applied a layer of Distress Ink in salty ocean and also edged around the circle with Distress Ink in blueprint sketch
• Inkylicious "Delicate vines" image stamped around the outer edge, using Memento Paris dusk ink
• Tim Holtz Idea-ology "small talk" sticker added to the ATCoin and doodled a border with a Faber Castell pitt pen
• Craft Emotions foliage (from 130501/1237) stamped using Versafine Clair twilight ink
• Stardust stickles used to add a little sparkle
• Quick spritz of Crafters Companion Spray and Shine, to protect those water based inks

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. NBUS - challenge No. 71 - USE NBUS
2. Polkadoodles - challenge No. 2 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Love to Craft - challenge No. 84 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Mix It Up - challenge No. 75 - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) MONOCHROME
5. Crafts Galore Encore - Feb challenge - ANYTHING GOES

And that relaxing weekend? Check it out!

The lovely Riddick, always relaxes me!

Good friends

Nick and Alan - the caterers for the weekend!!!
Thanks so much for the beef bourgignon and the chicken curry!

The "entertainment committee" meeting
- at Wetherspoons in Tavistock!

Discussing the next game to play!

Friday - the first on in 2025!

Morning readers,

Hope your year started well, despite the amber storm warnings in effect for much of the UK. We were dog sitting for a couple of days so got a little more exercise than we did over the Christmas break - and, frankly, that won't do us any harm at all! We also got a little more WET than we had over Christmas! Why IS it that dogs don't seem to care much about the weather?

I've a make to share with you today ... bet you can't guess who it might be for.

My C6 card

Materials used:

• white, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white, grey and red - for my card front, insert and matting
• The English Stamp Company bi-plane image stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Clearly Besotted sentiments (from CBSHA126) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne and tulip red inks
• Clearly Besotted stencil (clouds) used with a makeup brush and Memento Bahama blue ink to add "clouds" behind my plane image

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. The Male Room - challenge No. 194 - CAS (Clean And Simple)
2. Krafty Chicks - challenge No. 749 - BIRTHDAY
3. Creative Inspirations - challenge No. 22 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Double D's 9th Birthday challenge - BIRTHDAY
5. Penny's Paper Crafty - challenge No. 587 - ANYTHING GOES

Friday .... and the lull between the festivities of Christmas and New Year!

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ... an Artist Trading Card using layers of ink and some mica powder ....

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in white and pearl grey
• Using a blending sheet and water spray I "smooshed" Distress Inks: tumbled glass, salty ocean, stormy skies and blueprint sketch along with Blue Sky Lustre cosmic shimmer mica powder, and drying between layers, till I was happy with the colour patterns and separation
• Carabelle stencil "Fantasie" used, with a blending brush and stormy skies D.I. to add interest around the outer edge
• Crafty Roos images (from "Texture line trio" - December 2024 - NBUS) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne and twilight inks
• Faber Castell metallic bronze marker (to colour in the Crafty Roos squares) and stardust stickles
• Tim Holtz (Idea-Ology "small talk) sticker
• Twinkling H2O mixed with water before using to create the splatter effect
• Lastly, a mini blending brush used with Distress Oxide black soot, to add a darker border around the outer edge
• A quick spritz of Crafters Companion Spray and Shine to protect the water based inks

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. NBUS - challenge No. 69 - USE NBUS
2. Stencil Fun - Dec challenge - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) WINTER / CHRISTMAS
3. CRAFT - challenge No. 745 - ANYTHING GOES

Monday and it's the beginning of a new week

Morning readers,

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend .... get up to much? It was supposed to be my first Christmas meal on Saturday, a night out with my cousin and a mutual friend. We were spread over 75 miles and, with storm Darragh at it's worst, we took the decision to cancel our meet. Looking at the state of our neighbourhood in the aftermath, I do believe it was the right thing to do ... we'll reschedule in January when it will (hopefully) be less windy! Did the storm cancel or change your plans?

I've a make to share with you today ... I had rather a lot of trouble with my photos and for that, I apologise, in the end I chose not to share the usual other pix of the envelope/reverse of my card. I'd be interested to know whether you LIKE to see the "other" pix or not bothered .....

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and navy, for my card front, insert and matting
• Sticky mat - for holding my card front in place and to aid the positioning of the layered stencils
• Recollections layering stencil (757917, a set of three stencils - Nov 2024 - NBUS) used with a makeup brush to apply (light to dark) Memento Bahama blue, Versafine Clair paradise and twilight inks - thus creating the shaded snowflake
• Uniko sentiment (from Christmas wishes - 2020) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Stardust stickles to add a little sparkle to my snowflakes

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. NBUS - challenge No. 69 - USE NBUS
2. Stencil Fun - December challenge - USE STENCIL/S
3. Merry Little Christmas Challenge - challenge No. 59 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Christmas Kickstart - challenge No. 93 - IF IT'S CHRISTMAS-y, LINK IT UP
5. Sweet Stampin' - Dec 7th challenge - CHRISTMAS CREATIONS

Sunday and another surprise post from me!

Morning readers,

I know I SOMETIMES post on a Saturday but hardly ever on a Sunday, however, I am delighted to be a Guest Design Team Member over at Critter Crazy this month so .. that's why I'm posting at an odd time on an unusual day. The theme for the current challenge is ANYTHING GOES but must feature an animal/s.

I've a make to share with you today ... a bit of a guy vibe going on with this card .. IMHO

My C6 - Guest Design Team card

And a closer view of my cat image panel

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and red, for my card front, insert and matting
• Snippets of card in white and red, for my image panel, bow tie and sentiment
• Tim Holtz image, bow tie and sentiment (all from THMM109) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink, elsewhere on my card the bow tie was stamped using Versafine Clair tulip red ink
• Derwent Inktense blocks used to water colour my image and background
• Pink and Main stencil (PMS106) used, with Memento gray flannel ink, to apply paws to the card front
• Anita's dimensional gloss, used on the bow tie
• Crystal stickles to bling up my cat

I'll also be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Snippets Playground - challenge No. 494 - USE SNIPPETS
2. Krafty Chicks - challenge No. 744 - ALL OCCASIONS
3. Seize the Birthday - challenge No. - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) MASCULINE
4. Love to Craft - challenge No. 83 - ANYTHING GOES

Monday and the beginning of a fresh new week ..

Morning readers,

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend and that your body clocks have now fully adjusted to the recent clock change! Our body clocks had to contend with the clocks going back AND our return to UK time - we've had a couple of nights where we've been like Rip van Winkle and a couple of nights where sleep has evaded us but, think we're pretty much back on track now!

I've a make to share with you today ... deploying three new images and one new stencil - Woo Hoo! I went in to a U.S. craft store and was uninspired by the papercrafting selection ..... until my eyes lit on the set used below! No brainer, it simply HAD to come home with me!

My C6 card

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and aubergine, for my card front, insert and matting
• My two background zig zag "stitching" and my bird image (both from Stampers Anon THMM182 - Nov 2024 and NBUS) stamped using Veresafine onyx black ink
• Using low tack tape I masked off the corner before adding Memento grape jelly ink to the lower R/H corner and fading the ink
• Overlaying the circles section of the stencil that came with THMM182 (also NBUS) I added a further layer of the grape jelly ink
• Having removed the tape and the stencil I then started to add sparkle with my Tsukineko gelly roll clear glitter gel pen but ..... it ran out so good old stardust stickles got deployed instead!

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. NBUS - challenge No. 68 - USE NBUS
2. Stencil Fun - Nov challenge - USE A STENCIL
3. Simply Clean And Simple - Nov challenge - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) CHRISTMAS
4. Crafting Happiness - challenge No. 201 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Crafty Calendar - Nov challenge - ANYTHING GOES

I promise you, I'm about done with sharing my holiday snaps, recently returned from Florida and there are some lovely places which don't involve theme parks .... we headed to the small township of Eustis, home to MFT Stamps and, yes, I did a little retail therapy there!

And a visit to a craft brewery like I'd never seen before ... with a British couple we know who just happened to book a last minute flight and be there whilst we were! So nice to meet up with you both.