Christmas Card and Gift in One

 

Hello and thank you for visiting me today, I hope you are doing ok in this very difficult time. Christmas is certainly going to be very different this year, we are now in High  Tier 2. I wish people would just follow the simple rules, or those of us who are vulnerable will never be able to leave our homes.

In the circumstances I wanted to make extra special cards this year to send to family and friends, so I have included a wooden bauble which can be detached from the card and hung up elsewhere if they desired.All the details about how I made it are on the Calico Craft Parts Blog. 

Please stay safe xx

The Witching Hour

 

Hello, I hope all is well with you today? I am continuing to stay home, and only going out for necessary medical appointments. There does not seem to be any light at the end of this very long  tunnel, so I will turn on my torch and just keep going.

I have recently made this Witching Hour Mixed Media plaque, which is currently hanging in our porch, ready for Halloween. It was fun and easy to create, more details are on the Calico Craft Parts Blog .

Thank you for visiting and Please stay safe xx 

A Red Squirrel Visitor

 

Hello, I hope all is well with you today, we are lucky to still be having some sunny days here. I have missed  going to the local forest this year, especially now as Autumn will soon be arriving. Sadly the second wave of Covid has already started so I continue to stay home, as I have since March. 

I can’t remember the last time I saw a Red Squirrel as they are sadly so rare in the UK now. My sister sees them in the Lake District, but we don’t have any in London. Nether the less I have one visiting me today by the magic of crafting. I had a lot of fun making him, and giving him a lovely bushy tail. I have jotted down a few details on how I made this Autumn Tag on the Calico Craft Parts Blog. I hope you can visit.

Please stay safe, this virus is sadly not going away any time soon. Look after yourselves.

Thank you for visiting, hugs xx

Blowing Bubbles

Hasn’t the weather been lovely for the last few days, it makes staying home a little better. I recently sat in the garden creating lots of bubble backgrounds, I wrote a few details about how I did that on this page from last year

I love this little girl blowing bubbles stamp, which was perfect to use on one of my many bubble backgrounds.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Please stay safe xx

I would like to enter my Fairy into the following challenges 

Unicorn Challenge For a Child 

Lets Create Challenge Best of Friends 
Love to Craft Anything Goes

Fairy Flowers

Hello, I hope all is well with you. I’m continuing to stay home apart from attending medical appointments. It is very worrying times isn’t it. Thank goodness for crafting, it has always helped me with my health and disability problems, and it is keeping me going now. 

I was thrilled to see that Chocolate Baroque are running a new challenge, they have taken over from the Penny Black Challenge. This months challenge theme is Wings.I have a lovely hanging flowers CB stamp, so I decided to use it along with a gorgeous fairy stamp and butterflies. I used my favourite watercolours, and lots of glitter for my card. Glitter just never seems to show in photos, no matter what contortions you do! 

Thank you so much for visiting, and please stay safe xx

Garden Celebration

Hello, I hope all is well as it can be with you. Today I am sharing a very special garden which 

I made for someone’s 90th  birthday. He is a keen gardener so a garden scene was the most obvious choice. I had a lot of fun creating this, lots more photos and details are over on the Calico Craft Parts Blog today. 

Thank you for visiting, and please stay safe xx

Fairy Friend

Hello, how are you today? I’m continuing to stay safe and staying home. I am really missing going out, and it is sometimes difficult to work out what day it is!

For my birthday last month I received a new Fairy stamp, and this was my first play with it. I used watercolours, brushos, and added some beads in her hair. There is also oodles of glitter on this picture, but of course it doesn’t show up in the photo.

I am thinking about starting Christmas cards next, but I’ve no idea what I am going to do yet.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Please stay safe xx

I would like to enter my Fairy into the following challenges 

Unicorn Challenge For a Child

Lost Coast Portal Ladies Night
Lets Create Challenge Best of Friends
Love to Craft Anything Goes

Rainbow Bridge

Hello I hope all is well with you today. I’ve ventured outside of my home just three times since March and that was only for much needed  medical appointments. I certainly miss going out. It is difficult to see an end to all of this isn’t it. 

Today I am sharing a Rainbow Bridge card which was going to be published in the July issue of Craft Stamper, but sadly the magazine has now closed down. I thought I would still share the card  as Pet Loss is a subject very close to my heart, and it may bring some comfort to someone xx

Take care and please stay safe xx

A little sharing Book case

Hello, how are you today? I am not sure how widespread this is, but where I live some people have been hand making little bookcases from boxes etc and placing them in their front gardens. They fill them with books for others to take or swap. I am not a book reader myself, but this is such a nice idea I thought I would make a miniature version using Calico Craft Parts Punch and Judy Kit and Graphic 45’s Mother Goose papers. I am not sure if the Mother Goose range is still available as I have had it for quite a number of years 😁 There are more details about my little bookcase on the Calico Craft Parts Blog

Fairy Hollow

Hello how are you? I am escaping to fairyland today, would you like to come along? Just follow the star to  ⭐Calico Craft Parts Blog ⭐ 

A Dream

Hello, I hope you are well, and surviving the difficult times our world is going through. I don’t ever dream but if I did,  I think I would be whisked up, up and away in my wheelchair by a cascade of beautiful butterflies. This imaginary dream inspired me to create my wall hanging, more details are on the Calico Craft Blog today. 

Please stay safe, this beastly virus is far from gone xx

Sunflowers

Hello how are you, during this very different Summer? Ive not been out since early March when my dr  called me and told me to stay home. So when the weather has been nice enough I have been spending my summer in the garden. Our sunflowers are my inspiration for this card.

I stamped my lovely little girl approximately halfway up the slimline card, and fussy cut around her top part and then cut straight across the card. After water colouring the inside of the card which would now be visible, I water coloured the little girl and the remaining  part of the front of the slim card. She is carrying sunflowers, but you can never have too many sunflowers, so I die cut some more in plain white card and water coloured them. I adhered some to the inside of the card, and also some on the front of the card. 

Thank you for visiting, please stay safe xx

I would like to enter this card into the Penny Black In your garden challenge,  Creative Inspirations In the Garden, and Artistic Stamper Home

Summer Garden

Hello, how are you today? A summer garden is my inspiration for my project over on Calico Craft Parts Blog today. I used some dried rose petals from our own garden for the pathway up to the door. I used a heart for the door as home is where the heart is.

Thank you for visiting, and please stay safe xx

Happy Alice Day

Today is the official Alice Day, it is of course a totally virtual day this year but there is lots happening online at the story museum.

I have altered this old Alice book to celebrate the day.

Thank you for visiting, and I hope that you are staying safe xx

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz

The bees are buzzing at Calico Craft Parts Blog today! They would love to meet you there.

I hope you are able to still enjoy some happy Summer days during this very different type of Summer.

Thank you for stopping by, and take care xx

Win Stamperia Alice Stamps

Hello, thank you so much for visiting.  Alice Day is on July 4th this year, it will of course be a virtual celebration this year. You can discover more at https://www.storymuseum.org.uk/about-us/alices-day-1

This year Sid from UK Stampers has happily agreed to have another Alice Day Challenge. The gorgeous Stamperia Alice stamps (shown below) have kindly been donated as a prize by Charmed Cards and Craft. Just Create something with an Alice theme and upload it to UK Stampers, and you could be the lucky random winner! 

I have made my little canvas above using this set of stamps.

Thank you for visiting. I would like to enter my Alice canvas into the following challenges 

Penny Black Favourite Stamps, Alice is always a firm favourite of mine !

Stamping Sensations make it colourful

Beside the Seaside

Oh wouldn’t it be nice to be beside the Seaside beside the sea! I won’t be seeing the sea this year, so I have consoled myself with making a Seaside scene. The little lady is certainly enjoying her ice cream! More details about how she came to life are over on the Calico Craft Parts Blog , I hope you can pay her a visit.I found the most brilliant thing to make really realistic looking ice cream! 

Take care, and please stay safe, thank you for visiting me today xx.

There are always flowers

Hoping you are doing ok, during this horrible time in our world, sending many hugs to you if you need some. 

I am trying to keep busy crafting. My favourite medium is watercolours so I am sharing another water coloured card with a lovely quote on it. The little girl and the quote came together in the same stamp set. 

Thank you for stopping by, please  leave a comment so I can return the visit. 

Take care and stay safe xx

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges 

Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge

Paperbabe My Quote Challenge

Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality

Hello, I hope you staying safe and well. I am sharing an Alice in Wonderland card today, with one of my favourite quotes which is by Lewis Carroll “Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.”

I created the background with water colors and also used them to colour  Alice and the flowers.

I would like to enter it into the following challenges.

Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge

Paperbabe My Quote Challenge

Stay safe, and hold on to hope xx 

Rainbow Bridge

Hello, I hope you are staying safe and well. Today I wanted to share The Rainbow Bridge poem with you. It is 20 years since my Golden Tammy passed away, but I still miss her every day. I know many others are in the same boat too. I have made these Rainbow Bridge hearts as a memorial  to our beloved pets. If you would like to make one there are more details about the easy steps on theCalico Craft Blog

Rainbow Bridge

There is a bridge connecting heaven and earth
It is called Rainbow Bridge because of its many colours

Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of meadows,
hills, valleys with lush green grass

When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this special place
There is always food and water and warm spring weather

The old and frail are young again
Those who are maimed are made whole again

They play all day with each other
There is only one thing missing

They are not with their special person who loved them on Earth
So each day they run and play until the day comes
when one suddenly stops playing and looks up !

The nose twitches ! The ears are up !
The eyes are staring ! And this one suddenly runs from the group !

You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet,
you take him or her into your arms and embrace
your face is kissed again and again,
and you look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated

Alice In Wonderland Tea Party

Wouldn’t it be nice to be in Wonderland right now! With this in mind I have made an Alice InWonderland Tea Party using Calico Craft Parts. I love to use the blank mdf  pieces as I can decorate them anyway I  want, and I can use them in so many different ways! I hope you can pay Alice a visit  today to discover more, she is over on the Calico Craft Parts Blog.

Take care and stay safe xx 

Tree House Escape

Wouldn’t it be nice to escape to your own personal tree house! I can’t manage to do  that, but I have built a miniature one over on the Calico Craft Parts Blog. I hope you can climb the ladder and come and visit me there, Take care, hugs xxx

Just Keep Going

Just Keep Going, that says it all really! I used Prima Moulds and air drying clay to create the Carousel horses, and I made a simple canopy by folding paper and adding a few sequins.
Stay safe, stay strong, hugs xxx

Rainbow of Hope

Hello, I hope you are staying safe.Another 2 and half months of isolation to go, although after speaking to my dr and nurse last week it may well be much longer. But there is always hope. 

With that in mind I have made this rainbow of hope ATC coin.I embossed the tree, bunny, and grass, and water coloured the rainbow.

Please stay safe, and stay home. Best wishes xxx

I would like to enter my Rainbow of hope coin into the following challenges
Stamping Sensations over the rainbow
Penny Black Allsorts Anything Goes
Craft Stamper

Easter Wreath

I hope you are staying safe and well, in this horrible, horrible time. Easter will certainly not be the same for any of us this year. I made this Easter Wreath some time ago for Calico Craft Parts, and as Easter remains such a special time of year for so many of us I decided to still share it. More details about the wreath are on the Calico Craft Parts Blog.

I hope your Easter is as happy as it can be under the circumstances. Next Easter will  be so very different xxxx

Isolating - lots of free crafty downloads and ideas

Crafting always keeps us sane. But especially so at the present time, when so many of us are in prolonged isolation as we are vulnerable. Lots of lovely crafty people are giving away lots of lovely goodies to download. Lots of other ideas too, I have listed them below. Hugs to everyone, stay safe xxx

Prima have a large collection of gorgeous art colouring pages to print out, unfortunately our printer won’t print on anything thicker than copy paper, but I may still give it a try!

Finnabair are holding a stay at home and make art event on Facebook

Jane Davenport has a list of Alice In Wonderland prompts for April! I am going to try and do some of those.She has a group on 

Facebook where you can share your art.

Teresa Collins  has some topical and positive word posters to freely  print out.

Julie Nutting  has drawn a gorgeous We’re All In It Together poster 

This is my effort coloured on plain copy paper, note to self must get a better printer which will take card! 

Johanna Bansford has a large collection of beautiful colouring pages available to freely download.

Belle and Boo have some gorgeous colouring pages and paper dolls to download and print

Millie Marrotta has a lovely  colouring page dedicated to the NHS.

Wish Upon A Star

 I have made a Wish Upon A Star Card, let’s all wish really hard together....

I would  like to enter it into the Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge

Take Heart All Will Be Well In Time

I certainly hope this sentiment is true. Our isolation for our safety continues like so many others. 

Hugs to everyone.  Please stay safe, and follow the governments advice. xx

I would  like to enter this into the following challenges

Craft Stamper 
Stamping Sensations Spring Florals 
Penny Black Spring Flowers

Happy Little Stampers Watercolour optional flowers  ( thank you so very much for selecting me as last months winner. For some reason I am unable to comment on the blog to pass on my sincere thanks xx)

Courage Dear Heart

What can I say, we are all fearful at the moment, and those of us who are ill and disabled are even more so. I was originally going to make an Easter Wreath  for Calico Craft Parts this month, but I quickly decided we all needed a little encouragement, so I created this plaque. Please visit Calico Craft Parts to discover more.

I am now quarantined at home for my safety, with all the consequential difficulties. But we will get through. 

All we can do is to continue to hope, and do everything we are asked to do by our Government.

Hugs xxx

I would  like to enter this into the following challenges
Craft Stamper
Stamping Sensations Spring Florals
Penny Black Spring Flowers

Easter Card

As Spring is hopefully not far away, I have started to make my Easter Cards. For my first card  

I have used a beautiful cross and miniature animals from Calico Crafts. More details about how 

I created this card can be found on the Calico Craft Parts Blog

Thank you so much for visiting today. I would like to enter my Easter Card into the Happy Little Stampers Water Colour Challenge with the option of flowers and Let’s Create Challenge Option Easter

Buy Now Or Cry Later!

Hello how are you today? I have been taking part in a Just One Stamp Challenge at UK Stampers,  where a group of us exchange a stamp each month. This month I  am using Sid’s stamp, it is the background one. I love the sentiment I have used with this card  : ) 

I had a lovely  surprise yesterday when  I discovered that My Artist Trading Coins had won the Crafts Beautiful star prize! Thank you so much.

I am still having problems being able to comment on some peoples blogs, I just can’t work it out. Blogger seems to be making things more and more difficult all the time!

Thank you for stopping by. 

Spring Altered Book

I was recently looking through some old books in Oxfam when I spotted  this old book by Enid Blyton. It was called “ Brer  Rabbit Again” I thought it would be perfect to use with the cute little wooden bunnies I have from Calico Craft Parts. So I began my venture to alter the book, please follow me on my adventure over on the Calico Craft Parts Blog today xx

Thank you ou so much for visiting. xx 

I would like to enter this into Artistic Stampers Word Challenge.

Never Ever Give Up

A very quick water coloured card today, using the gorgeous new stamps by Phyllis Harris xx

Thank you for stopping by, I would like to enter Never Ever Give Up into the Stamping Sensations blog challenge with the theme of Feminine xx

Teddy Hugs Artist Trading Coins

I hope everyone has survived all the dreadful storms we have been enduring recently! Today I am sharing some Teddy Hugs via my Artist Trading Coins, which I have made for a swap at UK Stampers. I have a large collection of teddies, whenever I was in hospital I often used to receive a new one to keep me company. I have hundreds of them now!

Let’s hope the weather improves.Thank you for visiting xx

Valentine Animals Printers Tray

I am so happy to share my first project as a member of the very talented Calico Craft Parts Design Team. I love animals so I couldn’t wait to paint these lovely mini sized animals. This is the first printer tray I have made, it was really easy and fun to put together. The animals left their muddy paw, and hoof prints  all around the edges! (Hero Art stamps)

All of the details about how I made the Valentine Tray are on the Calico Craft Parts Blog

Wishing you a very happy Valentine’s Day, thank you so much for visiting xx

I would like to enter my Valentine Animals Printer Tray into the following challenges.

Penny Black Allsorts Animals 

Craft Stamper Anything Goes 

We Love To Create Mixed Media Anything Goes

Love To Craft Anything Goes

Alice In Wonderland

I have of course returned to creating an Alice In Wonderland whatnot again. It will be the first of many this year, as 2020 is the anniversary of Sir John Tenniel’s  birth 200 years ago. He was the artist who so beautifully illustrated the Alice books.

I turned one of Tim Holtz hare dies into the white rabbit, and several of my other Alice stamps joined him too. I used watercolours, and polychromo pencils for my colouring.I used a little piece from a paper doily to make Alice’s  apron. 

Thank you for visiting xx 

I would like to add Alice to the following challenges.

Happy Little Stampers Watercolour

Craft Stamper Anything Goes

Artistic Stamper Words
Happy Little Stampers with Dies

I love Elephants !

I love elephants, and I often try to draw them in my journal. Jane Davenport bought out a new line  of wild and whimsical stamps which included an elephant so of course it had to come and live with me ! The  stamp has a lovely little lady balanced on her head, on this occasion I just wanted to use the elephant. I took my time to ink up the stamp trying to avoid the lady. I wiped off  the ink which still managed to find its way onto the lady.

Water colours are my favourite colouring medium,  I used them to create my background, and also to add colour to my elephant. 

Thank you for visiting me today xx

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges.

Penny Black Allsorts Animals 

Happy Little Stampers Watercolour

Craft Stamper Anything Goes