Beautiful Polar Bear Photo

Ooh isn't this just gorgeous !

You can view many more beautiful photos at Dennis Fasts Gallery

 

Cliff sings Faithful One at Cillas funeral, he did her proud

I remember as a child watching Cilla Blacks TV shows. 

Cliff sang beautifully at her funeral today, you could see that he had to swallow hard, but he did Cilla proud.

Lavender Tea Cup

This is my first attempt at making a tea cup! I have made an early start making my Christmas gifts. We have friends who always stop in on their way to the Lake District in October so we always give them their Christmas gifts then.

I used Lavinia Stamps Lavender stamp on the tea cup, and their flowers stamp on the saucer. I drew a gold line around the edges and then covered it in glossy accents to make it sturdy but also to give it a glossy China look...

I visited Fortnums and Masons for the first time on Monday, so I picked up, some of their famous tea to sit inside the cup.

Thank you so much for looking.

I would like to enter my Lavender Tea Cup into the following challenges

Lavinia Stamps Anything But A Card

Artistic Stamper Anything Goes

Country View Challenge Summer Time

Lisa B Designs Lavinia Stamps

 

My birthday is in August, and to celebrate I am giving away a Clarity Stamp Stencil. Also included is a booklet of ideas on how to use it. Which is written by Barbara Gray. More info and to enter here

 

 

How others see you is not important

 

 

 

Lovely new Lavinia Stamps

Lavinia Stamps have released some beautiful new stamps. I especially love the new fairy stamps.

You can see them here I have also added my favourites to my Pinterest Crafts

Miss Meadows

I watched the film Miss Meadows today, and it was very very good.  I highly recommend it.


"Prim schoolteacher Miss Meadows (Katie Holmes) is not entirely what she appears. Well-mannered, sweet, and caring, yes, but underneath the candy-sweet exterior hides the soul of a vigilante, taking it upon herself to right the wrongs in this cruel world by whatever means necessary. Things get complicated, however, when Miss Meadows gets romantically entangled with the town sheriff (James Badge Dale).

The above storyline is from IMDb

Braver than you think Pooh

Just a little whatnot I made quickly today, with my new sentiment stamp from Inkylicious.

I am happy to report that their ink dusters worked very well too, 

I am celebrating my birthday on Saturday by giving away a Clarity Stencil, and ideas booklet written by Barbara Gray. So please pop by and take a peek.

Ink Dusters, Pooh quote stamp, and make your own Stamp Masks

I have received these happy packages One from Inkylicious and one from Stix2 .

I am especially looking forward to using the ink dusters as I have had terrible problems with some stencil brushes I have used before. The hairs came out, and not just one or two but bunches of them! (See pics below) The company sent me another set and the same thing happened again, so I looked for alternatives and these ones look good. 

Oh at the same time this lovely stamp found its way into my basket. The quote is from a Pooh film, but it is not from the original books by A.A. Milne. I hope to a make a card with it soon.

At Stix2 I found A4 sheets of masking paper, so I can now create my own masks for stamps, and I may try to create a mask  for  the London skyline. A bit ambitious, but worth a try! Stix2 have free postage in July.

I have some Blog Candy to give away on Saturday.......

My Pastel Painting of Elvis

My sister was recently sorting out all of the clutter from our attic, when she came upon some of my pastel paintings from nearly 30 years ago! 

I particularly like this one of Elvis. I could never do that now! It is especially remarkable because at the time I painted it I was very, very seriously ill, and I painted it in bed.

 A few months later I was near to death in a coma and was not expected to survive, but that is another story......

It was nice to see this painting again, I now have it in a frame and hanging on my wall. I am of course still an Elvis fan.

Crafty Individuals Face Value

I don't think I have ever made a Christmas card in July before! 

Crafty Individuals have a Challenge this month with the theme of "Face Value". So I used their lovely deer stamp on my card, and created a snowy landscape.

 I have a feeling this deer maybe Prancer!

Thank you so much for looking.

GIVE AWAY

 



It's my Birthday on the 1st of August, and to celebrate I am giving away a Clarity Stamp Stencil. Also included will be a booklet of ideas on how to use it. Which is  written by Barbara Gray.

I am not giving any clues as to which stencil it is, but if you would like a chance to win it, just pop back on August 1st!

 

Fields of flowers tags

It's my sister's birthday next week, so I wanted to make some summery tags to attach to her gifts. I have used Lavinia stamps. I wanted to create a field of neverending beautiful flowers.

 I would like to enter these into the following challenges

Artistic Stampers Challenge Tags

Little Claire's Challenge In Bloom

Thank you so much for looking

Magical Fairy Garden

My mothers friend often gives her broken bits of jewellery and various sparkly bits, for me. As she thinks I can always do something with them!

The last little collection had  a large sparkly gem pendant included, and a very pretty flower which was once an earring. I immediately thought of fairies, and my Lavinia Stamps.

I decided to make a 3d  Fairy scene. I cut down a camomile tea box to use as my stage, and started stamping. I carefully cut out my fairy and glued her to  the top part of the pendant, and glued the underneath  to the box. Then I began stamping a vast array of lavender flowers and bluebells. I wanted the fairy to be sitting amongst a host  of flowers. I cut out all of the flowers the lavender was a real challenge!

I decided not to use the poppies and chose bluebells instead 



Even though I used thickish card the flowers did not want to stand up, and they just flopped when I inserted them into the box. So out came the trusty pva glue, and I gave them a good coating. When they were dry I managed to slot them all  in, including of course the one special earring flower. I then  used three colours of flowersoft to cover the box and to make it look like grass and flowers. Of course as it is a fairy special place it needed a few drops of stickles added too!

I made a lavender bag to go underneath the box. I had some left over dried lavender from the garden  last year. This years is drying nicely. I attached the lavender bag with a ribbon to the underside of the box so it can be taken out if needed.



I am going to give this to my Mothers friend Irene, to thank her for all the little bits and pieces she sends to me. I have to admit though, I sometimes have no idea what some of the bits are......

I would like to enter this into the following challenges

Lavinia Stamps Add a Flower

Craft Stamper Take it Make it Anything Goes

Thank you for looking, I hope you can smell the lavender.

 

Clear Stamp Storage Solution

I had a  splendid stamp binder which I think was made by Papermania. It's zipper broke last week
 ( probably caused by overfilling!) and since then I have been trying to find a better solution for storing my treasured stamps. 

I decided to try an Ez Mount binder, which arrived today ( you have to buy separate page inserts too) The stamps stick directly to the pages, although some of my stamps were playing up and wouldn't  stick. So  I gave them a little bath, and then they were fine.

My stamps enjoying a bath

The only problem I have found with the new binder is that all the stamps which had happily lived  in my original binder won't fit in the new one.

Ez Mount Binder

So I am now not sure whether to buy another Papermania binder, and hope the zip doesn't break again or get another Ez Mount one. The price is about the same. By the time I have saved for  one I may have decided.......

Craft Stamper Take a Technique Texture

I have made this seaside 3d card/book for my sisters birthday this July.

I originally used a template to make the book, but.... well it sort of got a bit complicated and I ended up doing my own thing. Remarkably it still looks like a book!

I used Phyliss Harris's  gorgeous little girl and dog stamp to set my seaside theme. I created the background with dye inks, and then stamped boats and birds on separate card and cut them out. I dangled one seagull on some invisible thread. 

I made a white cliff with grunge paste and put a light house on top to keep the boats safe!

I used decoart texture sand paste to make the sand, it was an off white colour so I added some butterscotch ink to make it look more sandy.

Some white net made some swishy sea waves or sea horses as I always call them.

I made a beach scene to go on the front cover, and a background scene for the inside cover with my birthday message.

Thanks for looking, and happy summer time to everyone.  

I would like to enter this into Craft Stampers Take a Technique Texture

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.