Lavinia Stamp Challenge Any Colours you like

It's my sisters birthday next month, so I have made this little box especially for her. She is a chocoholic, so it will be easy to fill it!

I love playing with my Lavinia stamps, as it takes me to a fantasy world of fairies, unicorns, and magic. There are no rules so I don't have to worry about everything being in perspective or perfectly aligned and perfect. In a fantasy world it can be just as I want it to be.......  or just as it turns out. 

I would like to enter this into  Lavinia Stamp Challenge Any Colours You Like

Thank you so fairy much for looking 

Summer is on its way

I have used  this adorable girl on a swing stamp made by the very talented artist Phyliss Harris.  I am making a set of cards for my sisters birthday in July, and this is the first one. I think it is very summery and fun. 

Your imagination really can take you anywhere, and thank goodness I have a very good imagination.....

I would like to enter this into Artistic Stampers Summer is on its way challenge and also the
 Unity Challenge and The Craft Barn Challenge

Thank you for looking, and happy summer time!

Clarity Stamp Challenge 'Clocks'

Every year I make a December Daily Journal, and this will be added to my New Years Eve page this year. 

I wasn't going to take part in the Clarity Challenge this month as I did not have anything clockish. But when I was looking  for a spare chipboard butterfly to replace the one that had gone missing from a project, which I had made some years ago I came across this chipboard clock. Bingo! I have no idea what I bought it for, but knowing me it was probably on special offer or something.

I just found it this afternoon, and I knew I had to think of an idea and get it finished today too, as its medical appointments tomorrow and I don't know how I will be after them. So I decided to do something very simple. I have taken part in nearly all of the Clarity Challenges and I wouldn't want to miss one, if I can help it.

Thanks for looking.

I used 

A chipboard clock the packet said magistical memories

Dye and pigment ink pads

Stickles

A white pen

A Sparkly gem brad

Clarity Stamps

in My Dreams - Craft Stamper Take A Stamp Challenge

I created this picture to go with a poem my best friend Martha Rafter wrote. It is called 'In My Dreams' I hope you will have the time read the words below. I am going to place the poem and the picture together on a scrapbook page for Marty's Scrapbook Album. Marty died  last October, and I miss her so very very much.

I am entering this into Craft Stampers take a stamp anything goes

VE Day

Well what an emotional VE Weekend we have all had. Our family held a VE Party on the 8th of May. We sang along to all the World War Two songs, watched the Ceremony at the Cenotaph, and sat in respectful silence at 3pm.

Then on Saturday we watched the superb Party to Remember. Everyone must have been in floods of tears as Jane Horrocks struggled to read out the letter from Lieutenant George Morrison, which was to be given to his mother in the event of his death. Sadly like so many, many other Mums she received that letter.

It was a very emotional and educational  concert. We owe so much to all of those men and women who lost their lives fighting for our country and our freedom.

This afternoon I created this picture as a very small tribute to VE Day. 

The words with the music say " In England's Green and Pleasant Land" from 'Jerusalem'

The  Poppy Field Stamp is made by Crafty Individuaals.

 I am entering this picture into the following challenges.

Crafty Individuals Music To My Ears

Artistic Stamper Journalling Your Heart Out

Thanks so much for taking the time to look.

Magical Moon

I used my lovely new Lavinia Hare stamp to create this card. He is so cute!

I am entering my Magical Moon card into the following challenges.

Lavinia Stamps Pink Blue or Both

Country View Challenges Simply Scenic

Thank you so much for looking.

V E Day two minute silence Friday 8th May

http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/dkvhcs/ve-day-70-the-cenotaph



Remembering all of those who lost their lives during World War Two.



“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy"

Winston Churchill

My winning Lavinia Stamp Goodies arrived today!

Oh aren't they lovely. I love the hare stamps they are so cute but realistic. I can't wait to use them. I also  received a Gelli Plate, I have never used one before. I think they are mostly meant to be used with paints but as I have to do all of my crafting on a lap tray balanced on my knee, I think painting will be too messy so I will try to use my ink pads.

Many thanks to Lavinia Stamps for the lovely goodies. 

Little Claire Monthly Challenge # 56 - Use Kraft Card

This is my entry for Little Claire's Challenge Use Kraft

I love this silhouette stamp of the lady with butterflies trailing from her hair. It is so magical and beautiful.

Thank you so much for looking.

Craft Stamper Take It Make It Challenge Colour

This is my second entry for The Craft Stamper Challenge with the theme of Colour

I used a variety of stamps for this card. I made this as an Easter card for my Mum.

Thank you for looking.

Clarity Challenge 26 Wee Folk

This is my picture for this months Clarity Challenge 26 with the Theme of Wee Folk. 

Challenge Entry Take Heart

I enjoyed making this art journal page. I don't actually have an art journal, but I think I may actually buy one someday and create more of these fun pages.
 I would really appreciate any tips anyone can share about art journaling .

I am entering this page into the following challenges 

Craft Stamper Take It Make It

Artistic Stamper Monthly Challenge

Lavinia Stamps Challenge 3 Add A Gem

A Bubble Moon.

I used the lovely Lavinia Stamps for this card. I wanted it to look as if the fairy has blown a bubble that has turned into the moon, well fairies can do those sorts of things you know!

I am entering this into Lavinias Stamp Challenge 3 Add a Gem

I used

Lavinia Stamps

Gems

Dye inks

Sparkly gell pens

A White pen

Thank you so much for looking. 

Oh my goodness - I won the challenge! I can't beleive it as I never usually win anything. Thank you so very much. I am very much looking forward to spending the prize, Lavinia has some lovely new Hare stamps.coming out soon, which would be wonderful. 

Craft Stamper Take It Make it Challenge March 2015

This is my entry for Craft Stampers March Take It Make It Challenge

I used

Clarity Stamps

Dye Inks

White pen and a clear sparkly gell pen.

I have also made this same design as a wall hanging using fabrics, and stamps. You can see it here 

Thanks so much for looking

Clarity Stamp Challenge 25

 I really didn't mean to, but I've used my favourite hare stamps yet again. I honestly do have lots and lots of other Clarity  stamps, but I always seem to end up using my favourites. Sometimes I think I should buy another set of the hares as I worry that I might lose them, how silly is that!

I used them this month to make a wall hanging or rather a shelf hanging, as I have it hanging under a shelf and it is being held up by my Guess How Much I Love You Hare ornament. 

I used

4 fabrics

Clarity  Stamps

Inks

Silver thread

I am entering it into the Clarity Challenge 25. I have also made a regular card with the same design.

Birthday Card for my Mum

I made this card for my Mother's Birthday at the end of this month.  My favourite Hare stamp has made yet another appearance! 

I used

• 8 different fabrics
• Embroidery silks
• Inks
• Stickles
• Stencil
• Clarity Stamps            

I am entering this card into this months  Clarity Challenge  'Floral' and 
Craft Stamper Take it Make it Challenge  'Stencilling' I was inspired to make the flowers after reading their  latest issue.

#WeWillUnite

World Cancer Day

Merry Christmas

This is our tree, I made the christmas roses from wired ribbon, they don't look too bad from a distance.  I love fairies and have a small collection of them, I am sure that they fly around during the night!

The colours did not come out very well in this photo, they look a bit washy washy.  I had made more of a purply edged sky and a brighter looking deer. The deer is a very very cute stamp,isn't it!

I am entering again into the monthly Clarity Stamp Challenge - this month it is trees

Wishing you all the happiest Christmas it is possible for you to have.

Lavinia Stamps Challenge #12 add a flower

As this year is the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One, I wanted to include the poignant World War One Christmas Story in my December journal.

 On Christmas Eve both sides lay down their arms, and came together in Peace. 

If only it could have lasted forever.

I have used Lavinia stamps for this, and I am entering it into the Lavinia Stamp Challenge

I made the top 5 in the Clarity Stamp Challenge

I have entered the majority  of the challenges since the Clarity Stamp Challenges began, and today my book sculpture was selected as one of the top 5. Thank you so much, it means such a lot to me. Congratulations to the winner and all of the others in the top 5, and to  all of the other entries, I know how hard we all try.

Now if only one day I could actually win the coveted top prize..........  I hope we all do eventually

 

Clarity Stamp Challenge 21

I am entering my " Bringing Home the Magic" book sculpture into this months Clarity Stamp Challenge. I used the lovely new old fashioned car and tree stamp from this months Clarity Design Club. I also used the magical Flying Reindeer, and other cute deers , squirrels, and birds, they are all having fun in the forest! Of course I used my favourite hare stamp too.

A birds eye view 

Those trees were tricky, I just hope they look more like trees now they certainly didn't at the start.

A little log cabin, I hope the fire isn't alight inside, or the poor bird will get a hot bot.

Thank you for looking.



Lest We Forget

I have commemorated my Great Grandfather and three Great Uncles at Every Man Remembered and also many many others. There are so very many, it is beyond heartbreaking to see all of their  names, and so many of them were so very young.

My own Grandfather fibbed about his age to get into the army and fight for his country when he was only 14 years old.

My Grandfather with the Belgium family who looked after him

We Will Remember Them

ooooh John Lewis Christmas Advert 2014

This is just wonderful, as always. John Lewis always make such heartfelt adverts. I look forward to their adverts each year, and I was certainly not disappointed this year.

Joss Stone Feat. Jeff Beck – No Man’s Land (Poppy Appeal Single 2014)

Thats Crafty Hot and Spicy Challenge

I love the "Guess How Much I Love You"  Story, so I was thrilled when I saw the " I Love you to the Moon and Back" stamp, and  of course I couldn't resist it. I am entering this card into That's Craftys Hot and Spicy Challenge, it's  my first entry into their challenge. I think the orange sky looks hot, but I am not sure if it's spicy, so I have decided to name the hare Spicy so it will fit, is that allowed? : )

Classic Pooh Book Sculpture

in February this year I attempted to create my very first book sculpture.  Of course it did not,come out as good as I had hoped but nothing usually does!

I can't hold things for very long, and trying to wield a a craft knife is well a bit hit and miss. 

I have to do all of my crafting on a lap tray. Which  can be challenging, trying to cut, Brayer  etc on a little tray balanced on my knee.

If you would like to see some proper and amazingly wonderful book sculpture visit Si Blackwelll

How long will I love you

For this months challenge "seasons" I decided to do a little scene for each season using a different technique which I have picked up from watching Barbara Gray. 

I had finished creating Spring and Summer, when  I heard the devastating news that my best and dearest long time friend had died.

 

I still cannot believe it. 

I will remember, love and miss Marty everyday  for the rest of my life. 

This week I rediscovered  those two little pictures which I had made, and  decided to make the remaining two. I have always busied myself with crafts, to stop me thinking so much.

I made the scenes for Autumn and Winter. I have been listening a lot to Ellie Gouldings "How Long Will I Love You" and there are these lines in it 

How long will I love you?

As long as stars are above you

And longer, if I can.

How long will I need you?

As long as the seasons need to

Follow their plan.

Mike Scott

I just had to use these words with my seasons pictures. It  is going to be a page in a scrapbook I am planning to make in memory of Marty. 

Clarity Stamp Challenge 20 "Seasons"



 

There are tiny glitter dots on the background sky to represent stars, but they do not show up very well in the photo.

 

Marty, Thank you for being my friend I will love you forever.

I am so glad that we always told each other how much we loved each other and how much our friendship meant.
You are free now.

Lovely large pink case, and how do you store your clear stamps?

I found this gorgeous large pencil case, and my stencils fit in it perfectly. I especially love the deer on it and of course it's pink, my favourite colour!

Now if only storing all my clear stamps was as easy. I have the made for purpose stamp holders, you know the TIm Holtz one and also a papermania one. But they don't seem to be working out for me. You have to reach into the plastic pockets and pull out the acetate which the stamps are stored on and then many of them slip off, or get caught. I always seem to be losing a stamp, and of course this induces great panic when I lose one of my Clarity stamps!

How do you store your clear stamps? I would love to know...

Some crafty things I've made

I love fairys 

In memory of Tammy

The first soft toys I have made.

My first Clarity club stencil

It was found hurray !

My card was found by these two nice ladies. The freeartfriday is such a nice idea. It would be nice to do one at Christmas time too.

Free art Friday

Today I took part in free art Friday #freeartfridaypp run by paper panda http://www.paperpanda.bigcartel.com

Artists and crafty people are leaving their art to be found and taken home for free. It's a lovely idea. I left my card with this beautiful large wooden deer. I wonder who will find it and if they will get in touch......

Clarity Stamp Challenge 19 'Nature'

My entry into this months Clarity Stamp Blog Challenge, I made several cards for this challenge, and I couldn't decide which one I should enter. So I asked my family to vote, and this is the one they selected. Fingers crossed.

Clarity Stamp Challenge 18 "Feminine"

Clarity Stamp Challenge 17 "Anything Goes"

I stamped the Clarity images onto card, and then cut around them. It was very, very fiddly!

Clarity Challenge 16 "masculine"

Lavinia Stamps Challenge # 6 ‘ Add Some Beads or Gems ’

My Entry for Clarity Stamps December Challenge



      

Clarity Stamp Challenge