Buzzy Summer Days

I am over on the Indigoblu Blog today with a Summer Days 3d scene.  I hope to see you over there.

Thank you so much for visiting. I would like to enter this into the following challenges.
Craft Stamper Anything Goes
Stamping Sensations Anything Goes
Crafteezee Summer

By Your Side Lace Card

Hello how are you today? The lovely challenge at Frilly and Funkie is Layers of Lace. Unfortunately the only lace I have was given to me by a friend of my Mothers and is very, very bright red! I am a pastel person so I didn’t think I would ever be using it! Then I remembered seeing Barbara Gray do something with lace and mini gelli plates at a craft show, the mini plates also had mounts. I don’t have any of those items, but I do have a normal size gelli plate so I thought I would experiment and try to achieve the same sort of effect.

I brayered my ink onto the gelli plate, and then laid my rather vibrant lace on top.I used some copy paper to lay over it to tap it down in place. Then after crossing everything I can ( which isn’t much) I placed my card onto the plate and patted it all over, and with trepidation I pulled it back.... it worked out okish! A darker ink would have shown up more, but I do like my pastel shades!

I then stamped a gorgeous Teddy stamp by Crafty Individuals, and gave the larger teddy some ribbon lace on the bottom, of her pretty dress, and added some gems to both teddies. After adhering them to the card with sticky foam pads, I stamped the gorgeous sentiment which is also from Crafty Individuals.

Thank,you for visiting myself and the teddies today.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges

Frilly and Funkie Layers of Lace

Stamping Sensations Anything Goes

Craft Stamper Anything Goes

Alice in Doodle Land !

Hello how are you today? Did you also have the terrible thunder storms? Hopefully summer will arrive shortly! 

I don’t usually share my art journal pages as they are for my own personal scribbles, but this months Paperbabe challenge is Doodles. So what better place to doodle than in your art journal. I have not done much doodling before except while waiting on the phone! 

I love Alice in Wonderland so I decided to do a quick scribbly sketch of  her. It was the  first time I had used my water soluble  sketching pencil, it worked quite well. Although I was a bit heavy handed sketching in places so the pencil did not blend completely.  I used Watercolours to give Alice some colour. Of course Alice’s roses are meant to be red,  but I don’t have any red ink. So I loaded up pink in my pen, but it must have mixed with some residual blue as it came out a sort of purple! Oh well never mind ! 

My writing is terrible but I included my favourite quote by Lewis Carroll 

“ imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality “

There is an actual Offical Alice day every year and this year it is on 7th July. I think I should blog something special on that day. Would anyone like to join in, I know lots of us love Alice?  

Thank you for stopping by today, happy crafting! 

Country Holidays

Hello, let’s hope the sun comes out for the Bank holiday weekend! Today I am sharing a 3D frame I made for my  sister’s  friends birthday. They have taken numerous holidays together each year in the Lake District since well... forever. So I wanted to create a Lake District type scene, and these  Crafty Individuals Stamps are just perfect for that.

Crafty Individuals CI-474

She has two grown sons so I stamped coloured, and fussy cut two boys and a couple to walk along in the scene.

Crafty Individuals  CI-467

After stamping and fussy cutting the sheep, I added some white flowersoft to their coat. 

 

I also used some flowersoft for the hedges, and added in some dried flowers. I used twigs for tree trunks, and finished by adding some tiny bunting. I just have to wrap her gift up and attach the tag I made previously and it will be already for her birthday.

Thank you for visiting and whatever you are up to this weekend I hope you have fun! My wheelchair has been making a terrible grinding sound recently, luckily it is my indoor one, and not my other newer one for going out in,  so I may make it out to have a lovely Pimms and lemonade outside the pub, if the weather is nice enough. xx

I would like to enter this into the following challenges

Stamping Sensations Close To Nature

Penny Black Anything Goes

Gothic Arch Challenge

For the last few months I have been taking part in the Gothic Arch Challenge  at UK Stampers. Gothic Arch refers to the shape it does not have to be gothicky (thank goodness)This months theme is “in stitches” I wondered what I would create, so I looked through my old wooden stamps, and came across these treasures. A lovely teddy and bunny with stitches on them. I decided as they had been packed away for such a long time, they needed a good wash so I washed them and hung them on the washing line to drip and dry!

I used glossy accents to add drips of water falling from the furry friends.They are quite difficult to see in the photo but there lots of them there.I used green flowersoft on the branches, and also added some faux stitches around the edges. 

The foam stamps are coming away from the wood, so I am undecided if I should remove them from the wood to save space or glue them back on... 

I would also like to enter my In Stiches  Gothic Arch into That’s Crafty Stitch In Time Challenge

Thank you so much for visiting me today, I hope all is going well with you xx

Don’t Let Life Dull Your Sparkle

I fell in love with this Spellbinders  Away We Go  die when I spotted it at the Alexandra Palace Craft show earlier this year.It cuts beautifully, I do often struggle with dies not cutting very well!  I enjoyed creating backgrounds with my aqua markers pens so much I made another one, but no swirls this time. I also added some fibres and dried flowers. 

I currently have some pretty Forget-Me -Not flowers in my flower press, yes I actually put them in the press this time,  and not between book pages ! They should be ready in the next few weeks, so I am looking forward to using them.

Thank you for stopping by today, I hope you are having time to enjoy your crafting xx

I would like to enter this into the Artistic Stamper Backgrounds Challenge. 

Kindle your Spark of Madness

Hello, I hope all is well in your corner of the world. Thank you so much for visiting, and for the kind comments you leave me, they are truly appreciated xx

I always like to take part in the Country View Challenges  This month the theme is Be  Humourous - so I am a bit out of my comfort zone with this one ! 

This cheeky giraffe by Carabelle immediately came to mind, I have only ever used him in my art journal before so I thought it was time he came out and jumped onto a card! 

I experimented with my aqua markers to create a swirly background, I really enjoyed doing that as 

I was just playing and not trying too hard, and it came out okisssh  so I think I may make some more : )

I fussy cut the funny giraffe and used sticky pads to adhere him to the card. He is humorous in himself but I added the fab quote by Dina Wakley. 

As well as entering Country View Challenges I would like to enter Artistic Stamper Backgrounds. 

Have a lovely day.

Second Chance Winner of Big Giveaway

Sadly I never heard from the previous winner, I posted on her own blog, on here, and on the Indigoblu Facebook page, but to no avail. I do so hope that she is ok. If the original winner does ever see this please still contact me as 

I am sure I could find a little something to send to you.

I have randomly chosen another winner using random org.

The winner is #5 Tracey Thurston Congratulations please email me gillslapATyahoo.co.uk with your details.

Next time -  I have an extra special give away, a Mini Portable Photography Studio Light Tent. I hope to put it up as a giveaway during the summer, which will hopefully be arriving soon!

Party Sheep

Hello how are you today? Sadly I have still not heard from the winner of the giveaway, I have posted on her blog and Facebook to no avail. If I have still not heard by Monday evening I will randomly select another winnner. I do hope that the winner Linda  is ok.

Today I have made a tag to tie around a gift for my sisters friends birthday. Oops I haven’t made the gift yet...... it is going to be a 3d picture in a frame. My sister and friends go on several holidays in the Lake District each year so I wanted to create  a country scene. The Crafty Individual Stamps are perfect for this.

As this is for a birthday the sheep of course had to be holding balloons! I used Watercolours for all of the colouring, and added texture with Flowersoft for the hedge and white Flowersoft for the sheep. I crushed up some Prima Art Stones to make the pathway. I finished the tag by tying on  several different shades of green raffia. 

Thank you so much for visiting today. Wishing you a happy, and hopefully sunny weekend xx 

I would like to enter Party Sheep into the following challenges.

Stamping Sensations Close To Nature
Craft Stamper Anything Goes with Stamping

Penny Black Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers Watercolours

Final Call to Winner

I sincerely hope the Winner of the goodies above is ok, as she has not contacted me yet.....  I announced the winner a week ago. I have left a message on her blog, but the blog does not look very active. I hope to hear from her very soon.

To be fair to everyone who entered if I have not heard by the 14th May I will pick another random winner. 

May Craft Stamper

The fab May issues Craft Stamper  is going to be in the shops this Friday.I am thrilled to have one of my cards included  in this issue. My very talented friends Elizabeth Robinson  Jenny Marples  and Tracy Evans, have features in this months magazine so it will be a brilliant one as always! 

Many thanks to Trish Latimer for including me.

If you can’t get to the shops you can purchase it from 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!

Here is a sneaky peak of my card.

Thank you for visiting, wishing you a very happy upcoming bank holiday weekend xxx

Winner of the Big Giveaway is..

Thank you to all the lovely people who entered. Sadly there can only be one winner, but there will another giveaway in the summer, just because it is nice to give. 

The lucky random winner of this wonderfully large collection of  goodies is....

Congratulations Linda please email gillslap AT yahoo.co.uk with your details.

You may notice the giveaway post says 14 comments but I replied to one comment which is why it says 14. 

Encouraging Card And Secret Message Tags

Hello, I am on the Indigoblu Blog today with a special card that I created to be encouraging, and supporting. A handmade card and written message can mean so much in difficult times. I also wanted to include some hidden tags for secret messages or gift cards.

Mindfulness #2

 Thank you for popping by. I would like to enter this card into the following challenges
Paperbabe Anything Goes and Heartfelt Challenges Anything Goes 

Emerging Butterfly Into Our Wonderful World

Did you see the lovely Kay on Hochanda tv yesterday?  They had some truly spectacular offers on the beautiful Indigoblu stamps ! If you missed the shows you can still watch them on Hochanda  tv online. I have written a little step by step incase anyone was interested in how I made the card shown above. 

 Butterflies are an excellent example that sometimes changes are good and can even be beautiful.

Indigoblu Stamps Used  :- Victorian Garden, Anemone and Daisy,   Live,Laugh,Love

Step 1.  I painted Warm Tan paint over my 7x7 watercolour card, while still wet I crumpled up some copy paper and patted it down onto the paper, which left lots of interesting creases and textures.

Step 2. Some thin plastic was next to be used to add some textures. I sponged some Olive waistcoat paint  over the crumpled plastic, and spritzed it with water before laying it down onto the watercolour paper and tapping my fingers lightly over it. It left  interesting patterns.I repeated this process using the Peppermint Tea paint

Step 3. I sketched the outline of a pupa shape and cut around it, and also cut a slit in the middle so the butterfly could escape.

Step 4. I then covered the pupa with texture paste. I used the side of a palette knife to score some markings on the pupa.When dry I painted it with Peppermint Tea, and Olive Waistcoat paints.

Step 5. After stamping and embossing  half of the butterfly in Black, I lightly added some colour to her using Grandmas Teacup and Lemon Meringue paints.I fussy cut the lovely butterfly and slotted her into the pupa.

Step 6. Black embossing powder outlined the flowers from the Anenome set and the leaves from the Live, Laugh,Love set very nicely, and I coloured them with the Marshmallow, Wimberry Pie and Pantry White paints. When dry I fussy cut all of the flowers and leaves. I then added some shape by curling the leaves and petals around a pokey tool,  which gives them a more natural look. 

Step 7. I stamped and embossed “Let Your Dreams Be” sentiment from the Victorian 

garden onto the background.I flicked several colours of paint over the picture to add some little dots of colour and interest. 

Step 8. As my blank card was white,  I edged the watercolour paper using a black ink pad so it would stand out nicely.

Step 9. A real twig was perfect to hold the leaves and the pupa.I used sticky foam pads to adhere the pupa, leaves, and the flowers which completed the picture.

Step 10. To make the card stand out when it landed through someone’s door, I Stamped some flowers onto the corner of the envelope. 

Thank you for visiting, I hope you managed to get some of these gorgeous stamps!

I would like to enter my Emerging Buttefly into the Craft Stamper Take It Make It  Challenge and the 

 Try It On A Tuesday Natures Beauty Challenge. 

My Blog Giveaway 

If you would like a chance to win and all of the goodies in the picture below just click here : )

Spring Joy

Well it looks like Spring might have actually arrived - at last ! I have been playing with my new Distress oxides, and after experimenting I ended up with a colourful background for this Spring Joy scene. 

I love Hares I don’t think I have ever actually seen one in the wild in person, but I adore them. I sat this darling hare by Hobbyart in his meadow, and stamped and fussy cut a flower stamp to keep him company. I love using dried flowers and items from nature, so of course they made up the meadow too. 

Some Hares were so full of Joy they jumped into the air over the meadow! I stamped my hares by Clarity Stamps which have always been a favourite of mine, but then when Lavinia Stamps released some similar hare stamps, I had to get them too! I wonder if there are any hare stamps I don’t have... no, no don’t tell me ... : )

 I stamped my assortment of hare stamps in a curve over the main hare, they look like they are having lots of fun! 

By the time I was finished it was much too large for a card, so I punched some holes in the top and hung it up with some pink raffia.

Thank you for visiting the hares today, have a lovely day.

I would like to enter  Spring Joy into the following challenges

Craft Stamper Take It Make It 

Stamps and Stencils In The Meadow 

Fashionable Stamping Animals

Crafty Nomad Bunny Hop

My visit to the Alexandra Palace Craft Show

I met lovely Jenny from Hobbyart

Unfortunately it was pouring with rain yesterday and was very misty, so Alexandra Palace did not have its usual magnificent views over London. It it was wonderful to meet so many lovely people. I took lots of photos to share.

A collection of beautiful cards by the talented Hobbyart Design Team.

The talented Barbara Gray giving a lovely little demo.

Some lovely cards by Inkylicous, I am sure I spotted my friend Sandra’s stunning work there.

Some gorgeous Alice in Wonderland makes from Dolly Dimples.

I was really looking forward to the Anna Marie stall, but sadly they had sold out of a lot of things the day before.

My goodies - a stamp by Hobbyart, and one from Clarity, a stencil too all with nature themes. A beautiful unique fairy stamp from Inkylicius. I also found some Distress Oxides at a good price! I found Tim Holtz Resist Spray, which I have had my eye on for a while.

 Last but not least I treated myself to a gorgeous die of children holding hands, and one of them holding a teddy bear ahhh.I used to work in a playgroup for under fives years ago before the coma and before I became very ill and disabled.

I am looking forward to playing with my goodies. Sad Indigoblu were not there, but they are very busy with their popular Dirty Weekend workshops. I will be receiving their new stamps to work with soon.Lots of crafting ahead.

Thank you for visiting, wishing you a happy crafty week xx

Imagitation can take you anywhere !

I am always finding pressed flowers in between book pages, so after  experimenting with stamping on pressed rose petals  ( please see this post) I thought I would try using punches with them. I began by gluing my pressed rose petals onto card, I used a Pritt glue stick. I then  used the beautiful  Fiskars punch to create lots of  rose petal butterflies. 

I created a sky background with watercolours, and stamped the lovely little Phyllis Harris Stamp by 

Unity onto card.After giving her some colour I carefully cut around her, and adhered her to the background. I wanted the butterflies to float her up and away to a magical land. So I arranged the butterflies above her and drew a line from the butterflies to her hands. I stamped the brilliant quote next to her,  I love that sentiment - imagination really can take you anywhere...

Thank you for stopping by, I am off to Alexandra Palace tomorrow for the big craft show.

Blog Giveaway 

If you would like a chance to win and all of the goodies in the picture below just click here : )

Suffragettes 100 Years

It is 100 years since the suffragettes won some women in the UK the right to vote. I wanted to pay tribute to these brave women with this collage picture.There is a step by step about how I created it on the Indigoblu Blog Thank you for visiting. I would like to enter this into the following challenges,thank you.

Country View Challenges I have used a chipboard backing from a Watercolour pad and I have also reused some plastic packaging.

Stamping Sensations One for the Girls this definitely is !