A Mixed Bag

Hello, 

I hope all is going well with you today. Well the summer certainly seems to have come to an abrupt halt, and it feels decidedly autumnal ! I have a mixture of whatnots to share today. 

This is my entry to the UK Stampers Gothic Arch Challenge on Facebook the theme is fashion. I love this quote by Audrey Hepburn, she really was the epitome of beauty both inside and out. 

This is a scribbly sketch in my art journal, I had written the word “Friends” over the top of the sketch but my handwriting is terrible so I cut that off the top of the photo!

On Bank Holiday Monday we took a trip to a store called Poundland. I had never been to one before,  but I had heard that they were selling Christopher Robin Craft items.... so we had to investigate! I found some small paper pads, some tape which looks like a duck tape type, stickers and some gems.All for £1 each!!  I will have fun creating with these. Poundland also sales food goods so we picked some up for our local food bank. 

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend hugs xx

Men’s Birthday Card

Oh dear what has happened to the lovely sunny weather we were enjoying! Blustery and cold here.

Men’s cards are always difficult, so I had to put my thinking cap on for my fathers upcoming birthday card. I was recently given a packet of Tim Holtz’s paper dolls. I don’t usually make a lot of vintage type items, but these looked very interesting, and I could conjure up whole life stories to go with them!

I selected one of a young boy, and his dog as he looks like a hard worker. My father grew up during the war, and he had to leave school at just 14 years old to do much needed work on a farm. After the war he went onto agricultural college. He has always worked hard, and has had many interesting and rewarding  jobs  -  a local councillor, a Justice of the Peace/Magistrate. Also like myself, and all of my family he has selflessly helped others, and has been committed to endless voluntary, and charity work. 

My father will be 88 years old on his next birthday. To remind him of his younger days doing farm work I decided to add some chickens from a Hobbyart stamp set, to go with my chosen paper doll. I coloured and fussy cut the chickens and eggs. I used my aquamarker pens to create a simple background. I added twigs and various bits from my ever bulging nature box. I finished of course by adding a large 88 at the top

Thank you for visiting today.I would like to enter this special card into the following challenges.

Craft Stamper Anything Goes

That’s Crafty Animal Magic

Artistic Stamper Anything Goes

Frilly and Funkie Back To Nature

Let’s Create Anything Goes

Paperbabe Anything Goes

Bee A Good Neighbour

Hello how are you? I haven’t posted for a little while as I have been rather poorly, and I am still not quite right yet. But I wanted to share a lovely surprise I had yesterday. A friend had given me a craft magazine as a get well gift earlier this week. I did not feel up to opening it until yesterday. I was flicking through the pages, and I recognised a card. It was one that  I had sent in to the magazine about 4 or 5 months ago! I would never have seen it  if my friend had not randomly picked up that magazine for me! 

I am especially pleased this particular card was published.

I have downloaded a digital copy of Craft Stamper, and was thrilled to see my card set on a beach, I have always loved the sea, many  thanks to Trish Latimer.

Some more news, today I received this little package from Indigoblu, there must be new stamps coming out! So as soon as I am better I will have projects to work on.

I am just grateful that I did not have Sepsis again, I have to rest and hope to improve. Stress apparently lowers your immunity, and there has been an awful lot of stress in my life. I am looking forward to the new Christopher Robin Movie coming out soon.I certainly don’t want to miss that! I think I have more Classic Pooh stamps than any others. I have had some since childhood.  I think I can see a lot of Pooh projects on the horizon.

Here is a trailer for the Christopher Robin Movie below

Have a lovely weekend xx

I would like to enter this into the following challenges

Artistic Stamper Anything Goes

Penny Black something beginning with B which is my bee by Indigoblu 

Craft Stamper September Issue

I am thrilled to say that this is a sneak peak of my card in the September issue of Craft Stamper Magazine. Lots of 

Gorgeous Seaside projects inside. 

 You can find a copy of the magazine at www.craftstamper.com to buy subscriptions, www.mags-uk.com for single print copies, digital copies from www.pocketmags.co.uk 

Overseas subscriptions are available too!

Lots of thunder storms and rain here yesterday, it maybe getting cooler.....

Thank you for stopping by  xx

ATC Coins

ATC coins appear to be the latest fun trend in crafting, so I thought I would try my hand at creating some. ATC coins apparently need to be sized at 2.5 inches, and from I have seen they are always flat with no embellishments! Of course no embellishments for me is very difficul.  I decided to heat emboss all of the stamps I would be using, so the coins would not be completely flat.

I used Tando Creative coins, but they could also be cut to size on a die cutting machine if you have one, or you can find 2.5 circle template on google to print out. I decided to begin by adding a layer of gesso onto my 2.5 inch coin.The gesso gives a good base for paints or inks.

For the background I used Tim Holtz Distress Oxides, which I dabbed onto my splodge mat and then spritzed with water

I laid my coin into the resulting inky puddles, until I was happy with the look. It is best to leave the ink to dry a little before dipping again so the colours don’t become muddy. It is difficult to wait....  

I used a mixture of small stamps to heat emboss onto my coins. The sentiments are by Docrafts  and the lovely little images are by Clarity Stamps.

I enjoyed this new to me project, and I think I will be making some more in the future. 

Thank you for stopping by today xx

Paperbabe Alice Rabbit

Hello, did you watch the football match last night? I am very proud of England for playing an honest, clean game. I am not really a football watcher, but I always watch the big English games. Croatia just seemed  to continually trip, kick, and push our players ? 

On a happier note, I was lucky enough to win a Paperbabe challenge! For my wonderful prize I selected the Alice In Wonderland Rabbit templates and face stamps. The templates come in several parts and you piece them together to create your outline, to then colour. The face stamps have multiple layers of eyes, pupils, eyelashes etc. It looked a bit tricky at first but it was very easy to follow and I soon got the idea of it - I think ! The above picture is my very first attempt at using the templates and stamps, it is far from perfect, but not too bad for a first go. 

I used Watercolours to create the background, with layers of playing card suit stamps over the top,  I also stamped and fussy cut a pocket watch, which I  added gold paint to, and glossy accents for a clear watch face. I used black and some white fun flock on the nose. I coloured my die cut flowers to match the colours in the Picture Inspiration provided by Paperbabe. To finish off I added an Alice Sentiment.

Thank you so much for visiting, let’s hope the sunny weather returns soon.

I would like to enter my Alice Rabbit into the following challenges. 

Paperbabe Challenge  Picture Inspiration

Country View Challenges In The Summer Garden

Stamping Sensations In My Garden 

That’s Crafty Close To Nature 

Alice Day Winner

Thank you to everyone who joined in the fun with my first Alice In Wonderland Challenge, and created such wonderful projects! Random.Org has selected a winner and it is Number 1 Sid.   Congratulations ! Please email me at gillslap AT yahoo.co.uk with your details to receive your wonderful prize.

Sid’s Winning Tag as chosen by Random org.

I do not have any new Crafty makes to share today. So instead  I thought I would share some photos which I took on 1st July during our Guinness World record Largest Cream Tea Party hosted by Mary Berry.

Of course the table was beautifully decorated as the event was held by Cath Kidston.

I wore my Cath Kidston Alice In Wonderland dress!

Mary Berry looked beautiful and elegant as always.

We broke the Guinness world record !