It's Humpday Wednesday ....

Morning readers, 

I do hope that none of you have been too adversely affected by Storm Christoph ..... I slept through much of the wind and rain of Monday night and Tuesday morning but (apparently) hubby was kept awake by some errant cans skipping around outside the bedroom window - sorry hubs!

I've a make to share with you today ....... I wasn't sure about the vertical greeting but it DOES show up better in real life.

My card

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of my envelope

Materials used:

• White C6/S2, 250gsm card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of white card cut to fit
• One piece of deep purple card, cut to mat
• Carabelled "washi tape" images (from SA60118) stamped using Versafine Clair charming pink ink
• Great Impressions image (F364) stamped using Versafine Clair purple delight ink
• Chapel Road sentiment (from Vertical sentiments) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils to colou
• Unicorn stickles used to highlight the "sparkler"

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

1. Gem of a Craft Challenge - challenge No. 2 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - challenge No. 150 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Corrosive Challenge - challenge No. 1 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - challenge No. 2013 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Lemon Shortbread - challenge No. 137 - ANYTHING GOES

And now, for a non-papercraft make ... it's crochet .... an infinity scarf .... I started this a short while ago and it's not for how long it took to crochet but it was definitely in danger of becoming the self fulfilling prophecy in taking FOREVER!!! Once I put my mind to returning to the mostly finished project (I'd already completed the entire rectangle of the body of the scarf) it only took an hour or so but it was the fiddly sewing together and then crocheting the "cuff" section however, now it's done, I'm pleased with it. It's for a friend, I hope they won't mind that I modelled it for the photograph

My scarf

And what does it look like on? Rather like this!

Modelled!

Materials used:

• 1 x 100g ball of Marriner Metro acrylic DK 
• 1 x 4.5mm crochet hook
• Scissors, wool needle, stitch keeper

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

1. Love to Craft Challenge Blog - January challenge - ANYTHING GOES

New week, new year ...... fingers crossed!

Morning readers, 

Why fingers crossed? Well, kind of hoping for some improvements in 2021, I've not made any new year resolutions because that didn't work out in 2020 but ..... I wish you all a healthy 2021, stay safe peeps.

Of course, with the new year comes the urge to change things up a bit so ... I've changed the font and size of text on my blog - how do you like it? Does it look better? Is it easier to read? Do you prefer the more traditional Times New Roman? Or the smaller size? I'd be interested to hear your opinions - thank you for your comments.

I've a make to share with you today ....... YES, I know it's a Christmas project and we've just started a New Year but ... I got the stamp set for Christmas and wanted to use all of the images in the set before I put it away. I have indeed used all but the longer sentiment - maybe that will have to wait until I'm ready to start 2021 Christmas projects in earnest! These are pretty large tags but, when wrapping in 2020, I found most of the tags I had in my "stock" were scaled for smaller presents so - I'm ready for some big gifts in 2021 - now all I need to do is shop for some!

A single tag, to better show the detail

My batch of four mega tags, ready for 2021!!

Materials used:

• Good sized snippets of leftover card in white and Kraft .....  which I cut to the same sizes before gluing together and then die cutting using a Go Kreate tag die
• Paper Artsy image (from ZA33) and a very old Posh Impressions "TO" and "FROM" (2733B) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• StudioLight sentiment (from SL470) and Paper Artsy "Ho Ho Ho" (from ZA33) stamped using Versafine Clair tulip red ink
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils used to colour my images

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

1. Dream Valley Challenges - challenge No. 238 - CHRISTMAS
2. Christmas with the Cuties - challenge No. 45 - HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS + (optional) BASED ON A CARD OR SONG ..... you could argue my tag is along the lines of "Santa Claus is coming to town"!!
3. NBUS - Jan challenge No. 22 - USE NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) ... I HAVE used the princess from this set but this really IS the first inking of the Santa character
4. Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - challenge No. 523 - ANYTHING (Christmas) GOES
5. Jingle Belles - January 1st challenge - SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW ... the OLD was the "to" and "from" stamp and the NEW was the Paper Artsy Santa character

And a non papercraft project to share now ..... I reached for my crochet hooks .... with a view to running up an infinity scarf. Well, part way through that project I put down my project in favour of a neck gaitor - figured it would be quicker and I wanted to wear it that day! ..... I DID!

Materials used:

• Size 4.5mm crochet hook
• 1 x 100g of Marriner Metro acrylic double knit - I'd say I used over half
• 70 chains followed by 15 rows of half treble (U.S. double crochet) and a row of slip stitch to make a firmer border - it took less than four hours.

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

1. Love to Craft Challenge Blog - January challenge - ANYTHING GOES

I referred to this video although I used different wool, hooks and number of stitches and even skipped chunks so, arguably, I kind of made it up!!!

Friday - the weekend is close - I can feel it!!!

Morning readers,

I trust you've had a good week and now have something nice to look forward to over the weekend?

I've a make to share with you today .... what can I say? YES, it's a Christmas card!!!!

My card

And a closer view of the image panel

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of my envelope

Materials used:

• White C6/A2, 250gsm card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of white card cut to fit
• One piece of navy card, cut to mat
• Darcies snowman with hot chocolate image (from JCS0062) stamped using Memento tuxedo black ink
• Paper Artsy sentiment (from JOFY17) stamped using Versafine Clair morning mist ink
• Copic markers and Kaisercraft glitter gel pens used to colour image
• Stardust stickles and Anita's dimensional gloss to "bling up" my snowie!

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

1. ArtsyStamper - challenge No. 10 - HOT DRINKS
2. Dream Valley - challenge No. 219 - ANYTHING HAND COLOURED
3. AAA Cards - CAS challenge No. 159 - CAS/ONE CORNER + (optional) LOVE THOSE OLDER SUPPLIES .... had those snowies since about 2008/9
4. Happy Little Stampers - February Christmas challenge - ANYTHING (Christmas) GOES + (optional) XMAS WINGS
5. Christmas Card Throwdown - February challenge - COCOA

 

And, since making three giant blankets I've been kind of missing having something to crochet so ... whilst out with my pal earlier this week I bought some wool. Hubby was out that same evening so I sat and crocheted .......... and crocheted! Next thing I knew it was 10pm and I'd about finished!

My finished scarf

5pm

9:30pm

10:30pm

Materials used:

• 1 x 150g ball of wool from Poundstretcher (or whatever they call themselves these days!)
• 4.5mm crochet hook 
• Wool needle to sew together and neaten ends

I'll be entering this make for the Love To Craft Challenge Blog's February challenge

Wednesday, new month too ....

Morning readers,

It's a new month ... so there's a new challenge from Leslie and the team over at the Love To Craft Challenge Blog, be lovely to see you there, you can check out what the other Design Team members have come up with for this Anything Goes challenge. It doesn't have to be papercraft, it can be any craft and I decided to go with crochet for my project this month .... of course, it DID take rather longer to prepare this DT make ..... but I think it was worth it!

Materials used:

• 6 balls of Aran wool (400g/800m) by Sew Crafty for Aldi - 3 each of dark grey and dusky purple, though I do have part balls of both colours left (perhaps a cushion covers worth!
• Size 5.50mm crochet hook
• LOTS of time over 12 days!!!!

Friday and this can only mean one thing - the weekend starts here!

Morning readers,

I was chatting (electronically) with some crafting pals and it came about that we were talking about gilding flakes. I challenged a few of us to make (and post a pic) a project that same day - I dashed off to the Table of Craftiness and thought "If I'm going to use one item that I seldom think to use then why not use a second (my pan pastels) and perhaps a page in my neglected journal!!" I rummaged (like you do) and found a sentiment, stencil and image that I fancied using. I laid down the pan pastels background and reached for my gilding flakes and flitter glue - OH NO! My flitter glue had gone off (it was kind of glossy cream and solid!) but, I'm no quitter and reached for my "Sticky Stuff" embossing powder instead, as plan B's go it worked but I now recall why I don't use it as my go to method, I never perfected the balance between heated enough to be sticky and heated too much to be useful! Will I replace my flitter glue? Not sure, it's not like I use gilding flakes a lot since I discovered sheet foiling and tombow dual purpose glue and I also have a WRMK foiling pen, but, I've digressed - check out the journal page below ...

My journal page

And a closer view of the gilding flakes

Materials used:

• One page of my Crawford and Black journal (£1 from The Works - such terrific value)
• Pan pastels applied using cut and dry foam
• Dark Room Door sentiment stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Katzelkraft image (KTZ212) stamped on to both the journal page and on a snippet of white card
• Alcohol markers used to colour the image which I fussy cut out on completion and adhered directly over the image stamped on my journal page (to cover up any "misses" in my fussy cutting!!!
• Aall & Create stencil (#28) through which I applied Versamark embossing ink before sprinkling with Judikins Sticky Stuff and heating. Once the Sticky Stuff was heated and sticky I applied a liberal coating of gilding flakes, burnished with my fingers before removing the excess with a coarse sponge

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

1. WeLove2Create - challenge No. 4 - ANYTHING MEDIA GOES
2. More Mixed Media - April challenge - ANYTHING MIXED MEDIA GOES
3. Stamplorations - April Mixed Media challenge - ANYTHING MIXED MEDIA GOES but must use a stencil
4. Altered Eclectics - April challenge - ANYTHING MIXED MEDIA GOES
5. A Inky Mess - challenge No. 29 - ANYTHING MIXED MEDIA GOES

And, in case you are curious about the blanket I've been crocheting ..... it now measures 67" square - getting there!

Been looking after the surrogate wildlife this week. And that wildlife comprises: Riddick the dog and Iris the cat - both pretty cool

Not entirely sure what she's got her sights set on but ....

What a heroic pose!!!

Monday and the start of another week .......

Morning readers,

Good weekend? We did .... freaky weather aside! It was off to the surrogates on Saturday, for drinkies .... we wisely decided to walk! Thankfully, none of the freaky weather impacted our travels and we had a great evening too.

Managed a little time at the Table of Craftiness too ... I just love the expression on this dogs face and felt the VLV sentiment fitted it perfectly!

My Artist Trading Card

And a closer view of the colouring and foil collar studs

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in red and white
• On the white snippet I stamped the image (Katzelkraft mini 086) and sentiment (Viva Las Vegas plate #925) using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils used to colour the image and background
• Paper Artsy splatter (from HTPX01) stamped using Memento London fog ink
• WRMK hot foil pen used - with foils in pink for the collar studs and silver for the border, used to embellish

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

1. QKR Stampede - challenge No. 342 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Alphabet Challenge - March 29th challenge - "A" is for ANIMALS
3. Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday challenge - Simon Says ANIMAL ANTICS
4. Dragonfly Dreams - April 7th challenge - INCLUDE AN ANIMAL
5. Dare2BeArtsy - April challenge - ANIMALS

And even a little time at the Couch of Crochet!!! I've been crocheting like a banshee lately and ...... it's growing

Welcome to my Wednesday post ....

Morning readers,

Hope you are all having a good week so far and, if not, then it won't be long till the weekend.

I've been at the Table of Craftiness again and this time took out a set of stamps I've had for YONKS, they came free with a magazine and, frankly, are a bit more cutesie than I'm used to these days so it was a case of use them or lose them! I NEARLY lost them anyway as they were firmly adhered to the acetate - nearly lost patience with them but I finally managed and the ATCoin turned out super cute - still not sure I'll be using them again any time soon .....

My Artist Trading Coin

And a closer view of the image and colouring

Materials used:

• Snippets of card in pink and white
• Nesting circle dies for the 2½" and 2¼" circles
• On the pink snippet I stamped the Studio Light grid image (from SL340) using Memento rosebud ink
• On the white snippet I stamped the image (Adam Peston - for a magazine AGES ago) using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils used to colour the image and background

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

1. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - challenge No. 102 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Incy Wincy - April 1st challenge - ANIMALS
3. Crafty Animals - challenge No. 25 - ANYTHING (with animals) GOES
4. ARTastic - April 1st challenge - PETS
5. 2CraftyCritterCrazies - challenge No. 25 - ANYTHING GOES

Such a beautiful day on Saturday that hubby and I decided to take a walk. We headed off in a direction we've not taken since we no longer have a dog and, boy, has it changed!!! Instead of open fields and cows and rabbits running amok ...... it was houses, a new ring road link ... and a newt pond!

And we've never walked along this new road before either! 

Mind you, it was still a lovely walk in the sunshine and the newt pond was nice too! Took us the best part of an hour at a leisurely pace, and included a stop to watch the ducks and see if we could glimpse those pesky newts! SO GLAD we didn't need to do this walk yesterday as, what a change in the weather? Cold, wet and positively MISERABLE!! A day to stay in and craft, I chose to crochet - yes, I'm making another blanket using a far more muted palette - it's coming along. Oh yes, and don't get me started on this morning - frosty here but SNOW in parts of the country - bundle up people, it's COLD out there!

It's grown since I took this pic but .... still a LONG way to go