Hello Friend

 I can't believe the clocks change this weekend and that Halloween is here already!  We've been practicing battering the door knocker in preparation for the Trick-or-Treaters next week so Miss Molly doesn't have a meltdown LOL.  She seems to be OK with the fireworks thank goodness, wee Ruby was always terrified of them.

Anyway, I rediscovered this oldie from Eat Cake Graphics when I was on the hunt for something else...

Coloured with my watercolour pencils for a change.  I had just enough of the blue card left to cut three wee fishies from Simply Graphic (I think that's where they're from, wouldn't like to swear to it)

Layout from Moving Along with the Times #147

Snippets Playground #439 - use a snippet (my fish)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes 

Let it Snow

 I'm back with another card for my guest stint at Just Us Girls and this week's challenge is inspired by this photo..

Hope you'll play along too, pop over to see the cards made by their DT, they're such a talented bunch!

For my card I used these cute snowfolk from a Simon Says Stamp kit earlier in the year.  I added sparkle to the trees and their scarves but it doesn't really show in the pic.  I don't think I've ever used this colour combo on a Christmas card before, but I do like how it turned out! 

ABC Christmas - U is for unusual Christmas colours

As you like it - traditional or contemporary - most of my Christmas stamps are these cutie type so I guess that puts me in the contemporary camp!

In a CAS mood

We've had the most glorious sunny summer's day today, and I was totally self indulgent and just chillaxed all day, read my book and did a wee bit of colouring :)  I'm still in search of my Mojo, so just kept it nice and simple.

I coloured my little bunny from Purple Onion Designs with my polychromos and popped him up on foam pads.  I scored a few lines in the background and added a few little silver stars.

• Papercraft Challenge #40 - stars
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - stars and/or stripes
• Tuesday Throwdown #435 - anything goes
• AAA cards #144 - maxi white space
  

And here's Mum's calendar page for the month, just a tad late! 

I've used this old Wild Rose Studio stamp that I bought a long time ago and I don't believe I've ever inked it up!  

I was happy with how the colouring on my skirt turned out with the folds, but I've no idea how I actually managed it, bit of a happy accident that!

• Time Out #139 - inspired by words - I chose the 'flowers' 
• Watercooler Wednesday WWC228 - feminine
• Penny's challenge #437 - anything goes

New Goodies

Just a quick visit tonight, it's the big finale of Line of Duty and I can't wait to find out what happens.  They better reveal whodunnit or I'll be a bit P'd off if they drag it out to another series!!

Anyway, here's some more of my new Stamping Bella goodies.

This little bunny and his bear is an absolute sweetie - coloured with polychromos and some sparkle added to the white strips on his hat and glitter to his bauble.  Gummiapan flower die.

• Layout from AAA Cards #139
• Addicted to CAS #158 - contrast
• Die Cuttin Divas #418 - anything goes

I got my watercolour pencils out for a change for this one. Sparkle added to the carol sheet and glitter to their baubles.  I think I'll add in a few enamel dots for falling snow, it needs a wee something.

• Layout from Power Poppy
• CHNC #436 - any Xmas
• 
  

A dog and a bunny

It's been a bit of a brrrrr chilly day today.  We'd a wee touch of the white stuff this morning which delighted Rubydoo!  Apparently it's great fun to get your head and tummy totally covered in snow.  I didn't try it myself so can't comment ;)

This little stamp set is one I bought recently-ish from Jane's Doodles and haven't inked it much.  I'm trying not to spend any £££ on stash as I'm overflowing and don't need anything.  Plenty of stuff I want though ;)

Coloured with polychromo pencils; doggy and plant popped up on foam pads.
Gummiapan doodly border; MFT stripy paper.

• Layout from Tuesday Morning Sketches #493
• Stamp Ink Paper #189 - gingham plaid or stripes
• Your Next Stamp #109 - patterned paper

And here's a quickie using my little bunny and bear from MFT - coloured with polychromos.  Star stencil in background and little pink sequin heart to finish.

• AAA #135 - one plus three + friends - I used stamping, colouring pencils and inked stencil
• Papercraft #32 - clean and simple
• Creative with Stamps #36 - friends

Apologies to all my bloggy buddies, I've been very bad at my visiting recently - hope to do something about that tomorrow! 

Beary good luck

I bought this starry stencil and a metallic blue ink pad in a recent shopping spree, so I was bursting to use them.  This card for a friend in work was the perfect excuse.  He's got a new job as a manager of his local forest park, so I thought this oldie Stampin Up bear would give him a laugh, hopefully there's no wild ones where he's going ;)  I also used this oldie tree stamp from Eat Cake Graphics and then watercoloured in some grass.  Just noticed I've forgotten to colour in the tree trunks.  My bear is popped up on foam pads and clear gloss added to his nose and teeth.  Elizabeth Bell square stitched die.

• Make My Monday #83 - stencil stories
• Cardz 4 Guys #206 - into the woods
• Die Cuttin Divas #393 - anything goes
• Penny Black and More November - make someone smile
• Sweet Stampin - trees

And here's that inkpad again, this time with a honeycomb stencil.  I probably would have done my background in yellow if I had a yellow ink pad, which I don't! 

Stamps from Janes Doodles - Doggy, bee and kite popped up on foam pads. 

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Love to Scrap #115 - anything goes
• Crafty Animals #20 

Daily Marker 30 day colouring challenge

You brighten my day

Just a quickie post this evening .. Killing Eve is on telly shortly and I'm lovin it! I've been a bad blogger recently so hope to get round all my buddies tomorrow... after I finish painting my hall / stairs of course! I've been putting it of for ages, so it was good to get a start made at last.

This wee card uses this fab fun fishie from Avery Elle.  I partially stencilled in some waves and then added a few splatters, but they don't really show up in my pic.  Fish is mounted on foam pads and clear gloss added to his teeth and eyes.  I found these little silver circles in my stash and thought they kinda looked like bubbles in the water.

• Crafty Catz #434 - square card
• Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes
• Addicted to Stamps #314 - clean and simple

I'm on a mission to try to make a Christmas card when I'm making anything else.  I've used an oldie stamp from Simon Says Stamp - coloured with watercolour pencils; sparkle added to the scarf and red hat; and clear gloss + glitter to the antlers and accents on the hat.  Lil' Inker sentiment die.  I already had some of these white snowflakes cut so it was super quick to put together :)

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - animal antics
• Allsorts #490 - traditional Christmas colours
• Sweet Stampin Christmas October - any Christmas
• ABC Christmas - V for very quick

Stars and flowers

Ack I've no mojo :(  Just life and work getting in the way I reckon and when I'm tired I've zero creativity.  Ah well at least it's nearly the weekend and I've a couple of days booked off work next week - I'm planning on doing a bit of painting round the house but we'll see how that goes!

This first card is super CAS ... though I'll not confess how many stars I cut out before I ended up with these so it definitely wasn't a quickie!   I stencilled in the background, popped the little stars up on foam pads and added a few blue star sequins to finish.

• Layout inspired by CAS Colours & Sketches #291
• Tuesday Throwdown #411 - complimentary colours

I'd coloured this image back in the heatwave which already seems such a long time ago.  You definitely wouldn't be colouring outside this evening.  Apart from the fact that it's dark hahaha ;)

Coloured with watercolour pencils, sparkle added to the flowers and clear gloss to the little ribbon on the box.

• I thought this worked well with Michelle's lovely card inspiration over at the Muse challenge #284
• Simon Says Stamp Monday - monochrome
• Time Out #119 - friendship / one layer
• Less is More #380 - one layer floral (I know I used a white base but my card isn't the best quality so have to add a top white layer)

Sunglasses on!

It's been a dark, damp old day today but you definitely need your sunglasses on for this card!

This card was inspired by this week's featured stamper over at Splitcoast - here's JoAnne's original.  I found this snazzy DP in my stash and kinda got a bit carried away with myself ;)  I've used my new Jane's Doodles critters - coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss added to their eyes and teeth.  Did my usual trick of stamping a background and then covering it up!

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - stamp it for STAMPember
• Cute Card Thursday #546 - anything goes
• Crafting by Designs September anything goes

This one is for a friend in work who's leaving for a new job.

She has lovely white hair, don't think I quite nailed it.  She also loves her allotment and growing her veggies, so that's why I've used this oldie Kraftin Kimmie Stamp.  Bit of sparkle added to the pots and her bow.  

Lawn Fawn cloud die; Gummiapan flower die.

• Layout based on sketch at Your Next Stamp - though my top border is maybe too big.
• Dream Valley #186 - girlie

Pinks and purples

Sorry, another quickie post.  No beers tonight ;) but Strictly is on the telly and I LOVE it!   It would be fab to be able to dance 'properly'!

This first card uses a real oldie from Penny Black.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and gloss/sparkle added to the butterflies.  My Martha Stewart butterfly punch is on it's way out, it's a bit of a faff getting these butterflies cut.

• Happy Little Stampers September watercolour challenge - add butterflies
• Penny Black and More September - make it feminine
• Stamping Sensations Sept - beginning with B - bear / butterfly / bling
• Allsorts #484 - bears

And this one uses one of my oldest and most inked stamps ever .. not sure of the make, possibly from Cornish Heritage Farm.   

My colour theme was defined by this strip of dotty DP that's been knocking round my desk for a while.  Flowers popped up on foam pads.   Sparkle added to the petals and gloss to the flower centre. Gold strip and purple bling to finish.  

• Pixie's Snippets Playground #334
• Simon Says Stamp Monday - stamp it on
• CAS on Friday #141 - flowers
• Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes

More new goodies

Ooops I've been shopping again, my excuse was that these were in Jane's Doodles sale!

My stamps came wrapped and sealed with this little crochet heart so I thought it was a shame not to use it. I keep meaning to buy a bookmark die, but for the time being I just use a tag die and partially cut it and then shimmy it down and cut again.  (Don't know if that makes any sense or not!)
Coloured with watercolour pencils.  I added sparkle to the bird's wings on the card, but didn't add any to the bookmark in case it would come off on a book's pages.

• Layout from Your Next Stamp #97
• Addicted to Stamps #307 - make your mark
• Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
• As You Like It - favourite non card project - I like to make bookmarks as extra wee gifties to put in with the card

I'd some pink watercolour left on a bit of acetate, so I added some water and squished my card base into it to make my background.  A few extra pink and blue splatters to finish.

My little girl and dog are popped up on foam pads.

Gummiapan flower die; Lawn Fawn clouds and can't remember fence maker.

• My layout was based on the sketch at Freshly Made #353, but I've maybe got a bit carried away and lost it! 
• Tuesday Throwdown #407 - splatter it
• Die Cuttin Divas #384 - what  makes you happy? .... why, new stamps of course!!
• Word Art Wednesday #350/351 - anything goes

Hey Gullfriend and thank you flowers

We've a nice long Bank Holiday weekend ahead, though I'm always kinda sad to see this one as there's no more freebie holidays this side of Christmas!

I've had no time or inclination for card making this past week as we've been getting work done in the house - the builders have all been really great but don't you just hate having them in the house. I never quite know what to do with myself!  I've a wee bit of painting to finish off, but then I'll also have to paint the hall/stairs to cover up some plaster work, and then once I've done that, all the woodwork and the doors will need done too.  Aarrgghhh!

This first card uses a scrap of this birdie DP I've been hoarding for a while.  I've used my seagull from Jane's Doodles and paired it with an MFT sentiment and MFT porthole die.  I popped my gull on foam pads and added some sparkle to his jumper and clear gloss to his beak etc.  Sentiment stamped on dark blue card.

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #399
• Word Art Wednesday #348/349 - anything goes
• 
  

I don't think I've ever used white embossing on an image before, usually just for sentiments.  I just puddled in my watercolours and then fussy cut the flowers.  

I had a good clear out of all my bits and bobs of scrap paper today, but this little blue scrap of DP turned out to be the perfect size for what I needed! 

My flowers are an oldie set from Simon Says Stamp.

• Layout from Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge #SC711
• Pixies Snippets Playground #333
• Pile it On #145 - new technique
• Happy Little Stampers August watercolour challenge - flowers

Silly Simon

Ooooh I'm in love!  I came across Jane's Doodles stamps on a recent hop and couldn't resist a wee order!  I love the pure silliness of this set (called 'Simon')  I'd been lacking mojo recently, so this was just what the Craft Doctor ordered!  I reckon I need to get another wee order in before Brexit comes and knackers our customs and God knows what else!

Coloured with watercolour pencils.  MFT wonky circles die.

• Layout from Sketch Saturday #525
• Sweet Stampin - travel
• Crafty Calendar August - dots and stripes
• Die Cuttin Divas #380 - anything goes.

This card just makes me smile.  It features the seagull dude and smiley fish from the same set.  Burlap stamp from Swedish House Crafts and then blue splatters added.  Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy.

• AAA Cards #121 - friendship
• Word Art Wednesday #346/347 - anything goes
• Penny Black and More August - I spy - B = burlap
• Stamping Sensations August - your 'current' favourite challenge (this made me laugh, my newest set is always my favourite LOL)

Purple is the new Blue

Well Monday again!  Hope wherever you are that your snow is on the way out - normal service has been resumed here and we're back to rain!!

So this is one of those cards that looked better in my head, but it's warts and all on this blog!  ;)  It was an excuse really to play with my new MFT town die!  I've no idea why it ended up purple - with that sentiment I'd intended to use blue cardstock.  I think it would maybe have looked better with the darker purple on the base with the snip of lighter purple.  Who knows!!
I'm very mean with stuff that I love - so my purple glitter card was a teeny snippet that got added as it all looked a bit boring!
Penny Black stamp.  Clouds chalked in BG.

• Simon Says Stamp Monday - whatever the weather
• Pixie's Snippets Playground Challenge #321
• Addicted to Stamps and More #281 - anything goes
• Penny Black and More March - feature a creature
• As you like it - single or multiple layers - I rarely make single layer cards, mainly because my cardstock isn't the thickest and I think it warps quicker than one with a couple of layers to butch it up a bit.  Plus I like to use my dies and add dimension with foam pads!

Birdies and Bunnies

Oh brrr it's been another cold draughty and wet day.  I managed to get the washing hung out earlier, but by the time I got to the last peg I had to bring it in again.  Mind you, I'd rather have my weather than Florida's!  It must be absolutely terrifying to be there.

I'm way behind in my card stash, so I've 2 to share tonight.
This one uses my MFT gulls - fussy cut and the guy on the post popped up on dimensionals.
I've embossed my clouds with and old Cuttlebug swirly folder, and the little post with squares (but then covered it up anyway with my twine bow!)  MFT Embroidery frame.

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch Club #349
• Cuttlebug Mania - dies and embossing
• Love to Scrap #101 - anything goes
• Pile it On #134 - feathers or scales

I've a few thank you cards to make, so for this one I've used this fave from LOTV.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and sparkle added to the blooms.  Green enamel dots to finish.  Nice and simple!

• Layout from Sketch Saturday #480
• Colour theme from Lili of the Valley's colour theme
• AAA #98 - all creatures great or small
• As you like it - flora or fauna - well I most definitely have waaaay more critter stamps than floral ones!  But of course I've used one with both options here ;)

Daily Marker 30 day colouring challenge