So exhausting!

 Good morning- the last day of September has arrived, autumn is here, it's been a lot colder this week even though we have had some lovely sunshine. Jumpers and boots have been worn instead of t shirts and sandals and (whisper) we've even put the heating on for a short while in the evenings! Marvin has been snuggling in his basket rather than spreading himself full length on the kitchen floor as was his wont during the summer months, he's a bit big for it really but he loves it so much I don't have the heart to take it away! He has a memory foam bed that's bigger but it's just a flat mattress and obviously doesn't have the same apppeal, not that he's spoilt of course...

There's a new challenge starting today over at Crafty Catz, sponsored by Mirtillemente, the optional theme is 'Use some Blue'. Instead of a card I made a page for my journal, I coloured the fun and quirky So'Getta Happy Birthday image with Copic markers, then used Distress Inks and Oxides to create the stencilled backround. The stencilled panel is layered onto DP-many years old- which I've sponged with blue DI and added some stencilling. The sentiments are stamps from various companies . I've added some die cut and tiny stamped flowers. I loved making this, should make journal pages more often it's so relaxing!

As always there are plenty of beautiful creations from my lovely teamies- just click here to pop over and admire them! 

Thanks for visiting, have a good day

Chris

x

Poor Snowy!

 Good afternoon...ever had one of those times when everything goes wrong with a card you're making...well it did here! I treated myself to 'Snowy' a Penny Black stamp that I've wanted for ages, he was sitting on my desk waiting to be used. I had some time yesterday and went to ink him up for the first time...when I noticed teethmarks in the rubber!!!! Marvin has been very naughty, probably thought that the rubber smelt like his ball and need to be investigated. I'm not sure how the stamp got back on my desk but hubby was looking very shifty and quickly went outside when I noticed the damage.... Fortunately not too much damage, I can still use the stamp but Marvin (and Hubby) were in the doghouse for a while. 

Ok, Snowy stamped and coloured- I decided to add some Cosmic Twinkles to his hat- first glue wouldn't come out of the bottle-then it wouldn't stop and went everywhere! Left it to dry and fussy cut the little guy to get rid of most of the unwanted glitter, popped him behind the aperture, nearly done just the sentiment to stamp, so I bodged that too and had to add a panel over it! Snowy is now placed well out of the way of the jaws of death and I'm hoping for better luck next time I use him.

He just LOOKS innocent....

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

hollyandivy #124

allsorts 695#

pennyblack saturday challenge (atg option)

Rudolph Days September Challenge

Double D- Things that fall

Christmas in September

 Good morning, for this fortnight's challenge at Sweet Stampin' we want to see your Christmas -themed creations...it will be here before you know it! Already the shops here are full of Christmas decorations etc, they'll be playing carols next....

I used my favourite stamp from last year to make my card, I think this snowy tree from Mama Elephant is beautiful and it's large enough to fill a card. This one was quick and simple to make, I stamped the tree, masked it and sponged the sky and some shadows on the snow, flicked the white ink around for snow- then stamped the sentiment, one that came with the set. 

Lots of lovely inspiration over at Sweet Stampin', so do hop over for a look! Then why not play along?  If you're planning to make your own Christmas cards and haven't started yet now would be good time to start!!

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries :

audsentiments #297

cardz4galz #82

CRAFT #651 Christmas

kraftychicks #630

MAWTT #146

abcchristmas Trees/Snow

hollyandivy #124

Cute Bitty Bears

 Good morning, time for a new challenge over at Crafty Catz.

This week we're sponsored by Last Minute Manda- new to me! Some adorably images on this site so I chose the theme of Make it cute. I used the Bitty Bears Flower Patch digital images- there ar 6 digis in this set, so quick and easy to colour that I decided to use them all an d make a set of birthday gift tags. Here they are, coloured with Copics, a little  background stencilling and stamped sentiments. 

Do hop over to Crafty Catz,  where my lovely teamies have used these cute images on their fabulous cards, hopefully you'll be inspired to play along with our challenge- remember the theme is optional, anything goes at Crafty Catz.

Thanks for visiting, enjoy the weekend

Chris

x

Challenge entries

creativefingers #239

kraftychicks #630

throughthepurplehaze- ribbon/bow

digichoosday #38

cutiepie #175

Critter Crazy #66

Colours of Autumn at Fab'n'Funky Challenges

 

Good morning, I'm delighted to tell you that Fab'n'Funky Challenges are back after our summer break! 

This fortnight our lovely Pat is hosting and she's picked one of my favourite themes-

  Autumn Colours.

I'm always a bit sad to see the end of summer but I do love the wonderful colours that Autumn brings, I dug out my Lavinia stamps and stencils and had a lovely inky time playing with them.  I used glitter pens to colour the fairy's wings and flicked some gold glimmer paint over the finished card. (It's meant to spray- but doesn't...I've tried everything to unblock the nozzle but no luck so I flicked it from a brush instead!)

Please do hop over to Fab'n'Funky to see the beautiful cards my lovely teamies have created, you won't be disappointed and I'm sure you'll be inspired to play along :)

I'm just back from holiday myself, a lovely week in beautiful Devon. The weather was great, we met up with friends, talked our heads off and ate too much! We enjoyed some lovely walks with Marvin who had a wonderful time- on the beach every day- he LOVES the sea- playing and swimming. I'm happy to say that he was as good as gold all week- probably because he was worn out!

On the beach paying with his precious ball!

Thanks for visiting,have a good day

Chris

x

Challenge entries

craftinghappiness #133

jansdigistamps September Challenge

avenue613. September Challenge

welovestamping September Challenge

thefairyandtheunicorn September Challenge

countryview September Challenge

thefourseasons September Challenge

Crafty Catz are back!

 Good morning, I'm delighted to say that Crafty Catz Challenges are back after our summer break. This week our optional theme  Use a Stencil  was chosen by Billie, our lovely host for this week. Our sponsor for this challenge is Di's Digital Stamps- more details over on the challenge blog.

I made a one layer card and matching envelope using some lovely Lavinia stamps and a beautiful stencil, also Lavinia. I had been watching some tutorials on u tube and this was inspired by one of them.  

As always there's plenty to see over at Crafty Catz where my lovely, well-rested teamies have been busy creating their magic to inspire you, so please do hop over for a visit. Remember, our theme is optional, you can join in with any creation you like...so please do.

Thanks for visiting

Have a great weekend

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

simonsays -stamp it

aplacetostart #092022 fantasy

welovestamping. Sept. ATG

fairyandtheunicorn Sept. Challenge

classicdesign #9

craftyfriends #159

A fun night out on the town

 Good afternoon, a quick post from me to share the card i made for my daughter's birthday next month- need to get ahead as October is a very busy month for birthdays for me! I've used this stamp before, it always makes me smile as these 3 girls make me think of my lovely daughter and her besties! They've been the best of friends since their first year of grammar school. They celebrate all their big occasions together- weddings, arrival of their children, birthdays etc and they go away on holiday together whenever they can- they all pay into a joint savings account and when they have enough saved off they go! A welcome girlie time away from partners and kids where they can relax and be themselves. They've been to New York, Boston, Dublin, Las Vegas as well as many short breaks and weekends in the UK.

The image is coloured with Copic markers, then fussy cut (not easy cutting around all those long legs :) as I wanted to make it look as if they were looking out over the night city. I found the background image online and printed it twice to build up my card, which is a sort of easel with a double bump! It does fold flat though. 

Anyway, that's it from me, thanks for stopping by and have a lovely evening (or day)

Chris

x

Challenges entered:

Passion for Markers #657

craftinghappiness #131

dragonflydreams Birthday

snarkystampers #217

Creative Creases #40

worldwideopenchallenge #8

Stamping Sensations- feminine

Snowman hugs

 Good afternoon, a bit of a change in the weather today, cloudy with rain threatening, not a day for the garden so I made a card for my Christmas stash. I coloured this sweet Teddy Bo digi with my Copics and spattered some inky snow. I used various scraps of paper from my never-ending scrap box  and followed the sketch from Cheerful Sketches.

Thanks for visiting, enjoy your day.

Chris

x

Challenge entries

cheerfulsketches September challenge

christmaswiththecuties #63

craftyhazelnutschristmas #610 S for snow/snowman

mytimetocraftchristmas #42

MLCCB #46

hollyandivy #123

September Challenge at Crafty Calendar

 Good morning, it's hard to believe that September has arrived...it's far too soon!!! I'm not ready for summer to end yet- but at least we had one this year. OK we did have some unbearably hot weather for a while but on the whole it's been an amazing few months with so much wonderful sunshine- I'm hoping it's not over yet! 

Our new challenge at Crafty Calendar begins today- this month the theme is 'Anything Goes' and we are sponsored by the fabulous Sheepski Designs.

 My card was made using the lovely  Mini Tree image.I printed the image onto multi media paper, masked and stamped the fir trees in the background using Versafine Clair ink, then sponged the sky and snowy ground using Distress inks. I coloured the image withdistress inks and water, stamped the sentiment and then had fun flicking white ink for the falling snow. I'm a bit out of my comfort zone colouring with the Distress Inks so I'm quite pleased with how it turns out....and for once I managed not to put a dirty great inky fingerprint in the wrong place!

As always there are some lovely creations from my talented teamies over at Crafty Calendar so please do hop over to enjoy them, I hope you'll  be inspired to join us this month.

Thanks for visiting

Have a great weekend.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

MAWTT #146

audsentiments #297

classicdesign #9

merrylittlechristmas #46

addictedtostamps #437

Double D Wheels

digichoosday #35

hollyandivy #122