New Goodies!

Hurrah... my postie delivered my new crafty goodies today :)  I got these stitched star dies and another set of circle dies from Dienamics, a few DP pads, and enough gems to last me a lifetime LOL.  Reckon that's my crafty stash budget blown for a while ;)

• This week's challenge at Sketch Saturday #394 was a good one to practice my stars on!  
• Simon Says Stamp Monday - something new
• Natalie and Amy #40 - thank you
• Fab'n Funky #286 - something new
• Creative Knockouts #123 - anything goes

Guilty conscience ;)

Yip I've been shopping for crafty goodies, so thought I'd have a go at finishing a pack full of scraps!  Nearly made it with these 3, but there's still a few wee bits that still need using up.

Card 1: Hoppy Birthday
I found this sentiment when I was rooting round my stamps looking for something else, and then spent another 20 minutes looking for this froggy stamp!  Can't think of the maker, if I remember I'll add it in tomorrow.
Coloured with watercolour pencils; clear gloss added to his eyes; Wink of Stella to his paler green spots.  Gold, green and pink sequins from stash.

• Layout from The Challenge #55
• 613 Avenue Create #157 - anything goes; option CAS
• 2 Creative Chicks January - anything goes

Card 2: Missing You Doggy

This is another stamp that I can't remember the make of.  His expression is kinda like our wee Ruby today who had an unexpected visit to the vet and ended up getting a tooth out.  Think she's in a bit of a huff with us now :(

Watercoloured BG.  Clear gloss to the dog's nose.  Paper Smooches heart die.  Gold peel off strip and gold sequin from stash.

• Layout inspired by Michele's card over at the Muse Challenge #147.  I copied her strip down the side and the stitched die cut image.
• CASology #179 - simple
• My Time to Craft #312 - friendship

Card 3: Party Cow

Now this stamp I do know ... def a Penny Black oldie!  Coloured with watercolours.  Clear gloss added to her wellies and horns.  Green sequins from stash.  Sentiment from MFT.

• Pixie's Snippets Playground #210 - use a snippet
• Penny Black Saturday January - anything goes
• Layout flipped from Mojo Monday #429
• Creative Inspirations #342 - floral

January 2016 calendar page

Yes I know it's the 5th of January and I'm only getting round to my calendar page now ... but sure for the most of the month you've no idea what day it is anyway ;)  You might think it doesn't look very wintry, but we've had the mildest and wettest winter so far since records began!  Even the grass is still growing, and my daffodils are all pushing up like crazy, they've no idea what season it is, never mind what day!

I've tried a new technique for me with this one  --- yeah, go me! --- ink smooching!  I couldn't find any acetate type paper, so I just got a large dinner plate, added a touch of water and some splashes of watercolour paint, dipped the paper in, and Bob's your Uncle!  Love it!

I've used one of my new stamps from Eat Cake Graphics:  1074-G Stuart and puppy Scooter fly
Clear gloss added to the wheel centres and to his goggles.  Wink of Stella added to the raindrops.  I also added in some grass to the bottom (Martha Stewart punch) but it doesn't show up well in the photo. Lawn Fawn cloud dies.  I hand wrote my dates as I kinda like the effect, plus it means I can slot it in wherever suits.

• Crafty Calendar January - something new
• Stamping Sensations January - use a die
• Simon Says Stamp Monday - something new
• Creative Knockouts #122 - all things new
• Sweet Stampin - something new
• Allsorts #344 - what's new
• Cute Card Thursday #406 - anything goes

Tulip Congratulations

Well the news from last night is that I did win the Lottery .... bad news was that it was only 3 numbers so I'm afraid I can't give up work with £25 ;)

One of my crafty resolutions was to try some new techniques, so I thought it was about time I had a go at the watercolour background that's doing the rounds.  I read a great tip somewhere to tape your card down first with masking tape before watercolouring and then it doesn't distort so much.
Unfortunately my card didn't photograph well, my BG looks a bit darker in real life and I LOVE how it turned out :)

My image is an ooooooold Penny Black stamps, it may well have been one of the first PB stamps I bought and I haven't used it in such a long time.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and pink stickles added to the dots.

• Penny Black Saturday January - anything PB
• As you like it - anything goes
• Pixie's Snippets Playground #210
• Simon Says Stamp - party / celebrate
• Cute Card Thursday #406 - anything goes
• ABC challenge - Y for your choice

Kitty Snack

Ack I can hardly believe it's Saturday night already, one more day and then it's back to the grindstone!  Unless I win the super-dooper mega lottery tonight that is ;)  (I'll keep you posted on that one LOL)

My image and sentiment are from Penny Black and coloured with watercolour pencils.  Clear gloss added to their eyes and to the birdies beaks and feet.

• Layout from Share Joy #16
• Penny Black Saturday Challenge January - anything Penny Black
• Seize the Birthday - anything #birthday
• Naughty or Nice #23 - let's get silly
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - party / celebration

Pet Sympathy

I needed a pet sympathy card but don't have any suitable stamps, so I just made a 'normal' sympathy card and stamped some paw prints in the background.  I'm not sure why this card took ages to make now I look at it, just the usual faffing about adding bits and pieces and then deciding not to use them ;)

My flowers are a Memory Box die; Dienamics scribble die; paw prints and sentiment from Paper Smooches.

• I've used the layout again from MFT Wednesday sketch club MFTWSC261
• Inspiration Destination #66 - anything goes
• As you like it - anything goes
• CRAFT #344 - anything goes

Here piggy, piggy, piggy!

Happy New Year!  Hope whatever you were up to last night, you had a good time!  We just had a nice relaxing evening with a movie and a few beers, so I'm very pleased to announce I've no New Year's Day hangover for a change :)

This card reminds me of all those mad 'find the panda' puzzles that are doing the rounds, reckon my pink piggy is a bit too noticable though ;)

Pig and sentiment from an MFT set.  I cut several masks so I could stamp the little pig over the whole base and then used a scrap to paper piece the central one.

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch Club MFTWSC261
• 613 Avenue Create = anything goes
• Tuesday Morning Sketches #332 - anything goes
• As You Like It - anything goes
• CRAFT #344 - anything goes

ETA: Favourite at Tuesday Morning Sketches :)

So can you find the panda? ...