Easter Chick

 'Morning all, it's Friday and time for a new challenge at Crafty Catz. It's our lovely Ginny's turn to host this week and she's chosen the twist of 'Easter' for the DT to use- as always this is optional for anyone wishing to join in.

Our fabulous sponsor this week is  Jan’s Digital Stamps

Prize $6 gift certificate

https://www.janmahew.com/

I used the cute , courtesy of our sponsor (thankyou).  I've coloured her up with Copics and placed her in egg-shaped frame. (This image also comes in a pre- coloured version ). I've added die cut flowers and sentiment and big orange bow.

Thanks for visiting, have a lovely weekend, let's hope that April will bring some warmer, drier weather!

Chris

x

CRAFT #673

kraftychicks #657

Double D- Easter

I spy with my little eye #1

passion for markers #683

jansdigistamps March Challenge

Rain....

 Haven't we had a lot of rain??!! We seem to get the odd dry day- with sunshine if we're lucky...then the rain comes back - with a vengeance! I seem to spend my life washing muddy towels and leads- just get them clean and dry- and lo the basket is full of Marvin's muddy stuff again! 

It's been so dismal outside I've been in the craftroom a fair bit- I tried to make some Christmas cards but seem to have a mental block at the moment- everything ended up in the bin. I watched some online videos, mainly ideas for using stencils and picked up some great tips and techniques that I wanted to try, so I've been playing with inks, stencils and stamps and made several cards that I'll maybe get around to sharing one day! 

In one tutorial I watched, it was a Lavinia Stamps one by the brilliant Jo Rice, she used chalk-pastel pencils along with her inks to add highlights to her stamps- so effective and lovely. Remembering I had a tin of these, a gift from my daughter in law that I'd never used, I thought I'd try it. I wanted a large raindrop, didn't have a stencil so used a piece of card to make one... just folded card in half and drew a half teardrop shape on the crease, then cut it out- not a perfect shape by any means but I think you can see what it is (or does it look more like a lightbulb???). I blended some blue/grey ink through the aperture and them made a couple of smaller stencils and did the same with them. I wanted a rainbow reflection in the drops so this is where I used the chalk pencils, they smudge together so easily! I stamped my image (Inkylicious)  and sentiment (Visible Image) added it to the frame, finished.

I enjoyed making it and like the result even though the raindrop shapes are bit dodgy and I definitely need to practice using the chalk pastels!

Thanks for visiting 

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

allsorts #721 rain

stencilfun # March

simonsaysstamp stencil it

dragonflydreams outdoors

kraftychicks #656

Spring colours at Crafty Catz

 Good morning, it's Friday and the end of another wet and windy week here- time for a new challenge at Crafty Catz. 

This week we're sponsored by the fabulous

  Paper Shelter,

 Christine is hosting and her optional twist is Spring Colours, always such a lovely theme.

The DT were given a cute image to play with, such a sweet little miss in her Easter bonnet and those cool trainers! I've coloured her with markers, papers from stash, two sorts of ribbon and a die cut. No sentiment as it might be an Easter card for a small granddaughter or a birthday card - haven't decided yet!

There are some lovely cards in pretty spring colours to be enjoyed over at Crafty Catz so please hop over and see what the rest of the team have created to inspire you, remember the theme is an option you can enter our challenge with any creation you like- so please do!

Thanks for visiting and happy weekend

Chris 

x

Challenge entries:

craftrocket #101

thepapershelter. #546

digichoosday #10

mmmchallenge #196

worldwidecrafters #3

Lots of layers at Fab'n' Funky

 Good morning, our new Challenge at Fab'n' Funky starts today, this fortnight our lovely Neva is hosting and she would like to see lots of layers on your creations. 

I used this sketch from 

Cheerful Sketches

The papers are Kaisercraft 'Blessed'. The cute image is by Mo Manning, coloured with markers.

As always, there's plenty of inspiration from my lovely teamies to be enjoyed over at Fab'n' Funky Challenge, do hop over for a look-see! 

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

digichoosday #11

unicorn #85

alphabetchallenge- yummy (lollipop)

cheerfulsketches #18

creationsinpink #56

worldwidecrafters #3

It's the little things....

Good morning, I was delighted to be invited by lovely Jo  to Guest Design for Try it on Tuesday.

The theme for this  fortnight's challenge is 'Oh So Sweet'.

I used a favourite set of stamps Anita Jerome stamps from Colorado Crafts, this little bear is definitely a sweetie! I stamped him onto a panel of kraft card, then stamped and embossed the sentiment.  I've used Polychromo pencils to colour. I added the faux stitching with a white gel pen, the tiny bees in the corners are part of the same stamp set. 

Please hop over to TIOT to see the beautiful creations the team have made- I'm sure you'll be made very welcome if you choose to play along!

Thanks for visiting today- 

Chris

x

 Challenge entries:

cutiepie #180- Bear, bees, bloom

useyourstuff. #480

aperfecttimetocraft. #3

craftyanimals. #70

critter crazy #72

incywincy March Challenge

Stamping Sensations March Challenge

Go for green

 Good morning, here I am, a day later than planned with my DT card for this week's challenge at Crafty Catz. 

Our sponsor this time is LeAnns World 101, 

 it's my turn to host and pick the optional twist which is 'Go for Green' in honour of St Patrick's Day and because it's my favourite colour.

The team were given some cute images to use, I chose Tavi, such a cute little dragon. I made an aperture card using a scalloped die to cut the centre of my dark green card panel, using the same die set in a larger size I cut the green dp, stuck them together and, using foam tape, placed them over the cloud patterned dp. 

 The little dragon is coloured with markers and fussy cut,  I gave him a little cloud to sit on cut from the cloud patterned dp, doesn't show in the photo but it has a lovely sparkle. I added the stamped

 sentiment , a die cut swirl for his fiery breath and some bling.

It's been a busy week for me- a last minute trip to London on Wednesday with my lovely daughter to see a hastily booked show- Moulin Rouge- it was brilliant! 

Unfortunately we hadn't realised until after the train and theatre tickets were booked that there was a Tube strike so a lot of walking required- hopeless trying to get a taxi and buses were full but we're an intrepid pair and it didn't spoil the day at all- in fact I enjoyed the walk- so much to see enroute and the sun was shining. 

I was so tired when we got home, I had an early night and slept for 11 hours but what a lovely day we had.

Yesterday I decided to clean out the toy cupboard in my spare bedroom and turf out the toys that my granddaughters have outgrown so that I could actually close the doors without breaking into a sweat trying to stop everything falling out! which led to me moving onto the wardrobe in there.... why on earth did I keep so many clothes that I even if I could squish myself into them they're not the kind of thing I wear now that I'm retired or too dated! 

In the midst of this mayhem my sister and BIL turned up unexpectedly, which was a lovely surprise and the reason this post didn't get done yesterday.

Anyway, there is still plenty of time to enter the challenge- anything goes as always, you don't have to use green if you prefer not. just click here to pop over to Crafty Catz, enjoy the lovely creations from the rest of the team and add your own fabulous work.

Thanks for visiting and have a lovely weekend- Happy Mothers Day to those who are celebrating

Chris

xx

Challenge entries:

mytimetocraft #503

creativeknockouts #490

colorfuloptions March Challenge

crittercrazy #72

leannsworld101 #60

craftygalscorner #241

Guest Design at Creative Creases

 Good morning, this is the first of two posts today and my Guest Design card for this fortnight's challenge at Creative Creases, thanks for inviting me to join you Debbie! 

I have no idea what this fold is called but it's my new favourite fold and I've since made a few cards using it. There are plenty of 'how to's' online and it's much easier than I thought it would be. For this card I've used  Lavinia stamps and stencils. All the panels, inside and out have been ink blended using Distress Oxide inks, then stencilled and stamped with a few added splatters. 

Thanks for visiting , be sure to check out the Creative Creases Challenge, it's such fun and there's always some wonderful ideas and  inspiration to enjoy,

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

creativefingers #250

artimpressions #347

CRAFT #671

daisychain #72

happylittlestampers March Stencils

classicdesign #3

retrorubber #202 (dandelion stamps approx 5 years old)

aplacetostart March Challenge