Christmas Mouse

Hello everyone, as some know I've been struggling with a few new heath issues recently which are being investigated, as a result my mojo has been MIA for a while. So I feel the need to take a craft break for a week or two. 

I've scheduled several posts but like this one most are a tad light on content as my time on the computer has been limited so please forgive if I missed/miss one or two posts.

The new Faelight Chronicles have been sitting on my desk for a while but because of several hospital visits they remained un-inked, but as I was awake at silly o'clock this morning made myself sit down and stamp. Above the result, not really satisfied but I didn't want to miss Rudolph Days.

Swallowtail Butterfly

Good morning, it's my turn to choose the theme this time round at Allsorts and it's a seasonal one of Autumn along with the usual Anything Goes option. Our prizes comes from Stamp Addicts and Simon Says.

A fairly simple card using Stamp Addicts Swallow Tail Butterfly, stamped twice onto vellum, stamped Lavinia leaves and some soft stencilling.

And a second one made a few weeks ago using several Lavinia stamps with a Halloween feel. 

Bumble Lodge

Morning all, a week fraught with frustration, iMac crashed, luckily the Genius Bar guys managed to recover some info to load into a new machine but takes so long, especially when your not firing on all cylinders. On a positive note an almost instant referral starting with Iron Infusion in a few days, then another consultant later in week to try and stabilise my Pernicious and associated issues. I'm told the infusion will make me very tired initially, but realistically can't be worse than recent weeks, I've collapsed a couple of times so need to get sorted. So it will be blogging and crafting if and when.

It's the 18th of the month which means mid way inspiration at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where we have Autumn themes at both. Prizes come from Lavinia Stamps and Personal Impressions.

As with my last post, with the exception of the last share, everything is from my 'just in case' archives. Above a little forest scene using Lavinia Bumble Lodge, Creeping Vine, Wild Summer Flower, Orchard Grass, Slender Mushrooms, Fairy Path, the large Fairy is unfortunately long since retired but remains a favourite. Cards4Galz have the theme For a Little Girl, think Fairies fit the bill.

For this one an Autumnal wreath (made before I became addicted to my new Sizzix Spin and Stamp) using Ecoline pens direct to stamp which are Tim Holtz Leaf Prints and Sketchy Leaves. Words are A&C. The theme at Card Concept is Autumn Days and it's also Autumn at the Unicorn Challenge.

Tim Holtz leaf stamps again and inked in the same way as above, words from same source. Card4Guys would like to see Autumn card so linking up there.

And I also have a card for Jo's Snow Alert theme at Christmas Kickstart challenge and it's also a Christmas theme at Simon Say's Wednesday challenge and Farmquest Christmas.

A pretty simple little snow scene with some of my favourite Lavinia Hares from Whimscal Hares small and large out in the snow, looking in wonder at the North Star. Trees are Red Pine and at the top Christmas Mistletoe.

One final share for Beautiful Blossoms challenge, this is a new make using my new Spin and Stamp, Lavinia stamps and focal Penny Black quote, they have a lovely Autumn photo for inspiration, I've tried to carry the oranges and blue. Focal Sentiments are the requirement at Word Power so linking up there.

Nutty Squirrel

Morning all, it's mid way time at Tag-Along (and ATC's) challenge, like most of what I've shared recently they are not recent makes. No secret I work well ahead, my MS 'just in case' policy and recently it's proved a logical way of working as Mr Mojo has been missing.

My tag above uses AALL and Create Intricatags, the two little ones are from a pack of TH ephemera, flowers also A&C stamped, coloured and cut out and some crackle texture paste spots with Autumnal coloured twines. I am linking at Heartsquest shaped cards and tags.

My ATC is a grungy creation, A&C background stamps, a piece of finely ridged corrugated, leaves using A&C Crunched Leafdrop and Leafinately Detailed matching stamp and die set, currently on offer as a set for £21.99. Pearly Sparkles would like Autumn Leaves and it's Autumn at Try it on Tuesday and at the Outlawz Songs and Rhymes poem, red and gold and crunchy leaves popped out at me.

Another made weeks ago, my share for the Snippets Playground challenge and Ellies latest Garden Party (I know she has Squirrels in her garden) Stamps are Visible Image and come with matching dies, I used a stencil to add some brickwork and then stamped, coloured and cut the Squirrel, acorns and leaves. A few stamped grasses and flowers which are Lavinia and sentiment from the same stamp set. Aud Sentiments would also like to see Autumnal makes and I reckon this little chap will fit in at Fab 'n Funky and Simon Say's Monday challenge is Add some Text. 

Did remember a photo of my snippets as when making thought it would be a good fit for the Playground.

As mentioned above not been many new makes recently, my dexterity is deteriorating along with vision so stamping's getting more challenging. Eye's not helped by unstable glucose, same Brittle Diabetes as my Dad, it can dip from 24 to 4 in minutes and back again. All in all been rather poorly, had lots of tests yesterday and have urgent hospital referral.

Last week I'd decided to try and give my mojo a boost. I've been convincing myself for months I didn't need a Sizzix Stamp and Spin tool, but discovered that I really, really did. Amazon had the best price by far along with the matching Stencil and Stamp Tool, although I have the TH platform or LH Ultimate neither are compatible with the Spin. 

I've had such fun using it and the bin's not getting constantly filled with inky bodge ups as has been the case. Being very fond of a floral, Christmas or leafy wreath it's absolutely perfect for creating them with real precision, above pretty simple but I've lots of ideas now I've had an initial play. I would like to enter the above into the Unicorn Challenge Autumn theme,

It works equally well for a symmetrical design as with this one below stamped onto an old Gelli background, it's so quick, I was amazed at the speed I was able to create these. I would like to enter the one below to Creations in Pink.

Have a good Tuesday everyone.

Festive Foliage

Good morning, we have a new challenge at Allsorts and a theme selected by Lynne which is Traditional Christmas colours. We have a gorgeous Tim Holtz Festive Foliage stamp set from Buddly Crafts to be won as well as a voucher for digital downloads. 

It happens to be a stamp set I own, it's got four lovely images on it and has worked overtime for this years Christmas cards. Here I used one on the card, another on the envelope. The base card is AALL and Create Heart Marks the Spot (46) cut in dark brown, the top layers inked around the edges and a thin line of Gilding Tilsen applied by running a glue pen around the outside edge. The image is stamped and coloured with Inktense pencils, a little Tilsen added to the leaves and some sparkly red twine wrapped around.

Lots of Christmas challenges about so would like to enter at Krafty Chicks, 12 Months of Christmas, Peace on Earth and The Holly and Ivy Christmas challenges. Also Dragonfly Dreams would like to see shaped cards.

And a second one using Penny Black Fir Branch an arch shaped Kraft card base, the image stamped and lightly shades, some sparkly twin and a strip of washi tape across the bottom. I would like to enter this one into Inkspirational seasons option, going with Winter Outlawz Festive Friday choose a season, Winter again, Outlawz Twisted Thursday All Tied Up and Ellie's Garden Party 8.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Autumn yet again

Morning all, time for our new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations. At WLS our theme is 'Anything Autumn, chosen by me and at SS.....you guessed it the same again!!  Prizes come from Lavinia Stamps at WLS and at SS a super £25 store voucher from Personal Impressions.

As I mentioned the other day I love creating for Autumn so in my element and have two for both challenges. Above a lolly stick plaque, spritzed with oxide sprays, a beautiful but very old Hero Arts Wheat stamp embossed with copper EP, lots of leaves across the top using Tim Holtz Sketchy Leaves and along the bottom Tiny Toadstools, the randomly stamped script is from the same set. Creative Artist's challenge is all about Mixed Media so would like to enter this there.

The starting point for the above card was a large maple leaf inked with Autumnal colours, spritzed with water and used as a stamp to create the background. I then stamped the scene with Lavinia Pipin, Wild Hares, Small Pine Trees and Every Dream and brushed in a few hills to ground everything. The theme at Crafty Catz is Autumn colours and at Inkspirational there is a mood board, the moon and woodland feel stood out for me.

Here we have Gus the Owl perched on Vine Branch, an inky background, Moon and stencil to created the spots then more stamping with Leaf Spray, Seed Heads and Oak Leaf Branch to build the scene. At Craft Rocket the theme is Autumn/Halloween, at Outlawz Festive Friday there's a seasonal choice, I've gone with Autumn and at Colour Dare 671 they have a colour palette of orange and yellow shades so entering my Owl at these.

Mr Rabbit had to make an appearance again, this time in Autumnal fashion, the tartan is a stamp within the set and the leaves around the edge are from the same set used on the lolly stick plaque above. At Festive Friday it's select at least three from their list, I've gone with checks, white, encouraging sentiment.

Autumnal colours and a wander round the garden

Good morning to you all on 1st October, new challenges at Tag-Along (and ATC's) and Moving Along With The Times, it's also our Wedding Anniversary, although I'm not putting in writing how many years, I'll let you do some guessing there. Covid jabs today and hopefully a meal out in Cambridge tomorrow instead.

Prize at Tag-Along is from AALL and Create and it's some lovely tag ephemera along with stencil and designer card.

Our theme at Tag-Along was my choice so totally predictable it's Anything Autumn. I'm sure I've said many times before, I absolutely love creating for Autumn, non too keen on the shorter days and chilly weather though. Apparently we are promised a particularly vibrant display of colour this year due to the hot summer weather.

My tag is another tag within a tag, cut twice then another die used to cut an aperture in one and raised over the other with foam tape. Some 'straw' sourced on Amazon and leaves using AALL and Create Leafinately Detailed matching stamps and dies using inky offcuts and seam binding to finish. With all the leafy offcuts I'm popping over to the Playground, I might even share some of the conkers in the photo below with the playmates. Lots of Autumn theme at the moment so sharing at a few, Dream Valley is looking for Autumn colours and Make My Monday's theme is Autumn Festival, Pearly Sparkles is Autumn Leaves and also Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone.

My ATC uses a strip of packing, A&C words and TH Leaf Prints, again stamped onto inky offcuts, cut out and placed over some twine. Finally Fall is the theme at Snarky Crafters and also Four Seasons.

Next my share for MAWTT where our theme is Sentiment in Focus, I paired Lavinia Believe which is a huge stamp with a sentiment from my own Moments set available here which also has believe within it to create a focal sentiment. All stamps are Lavinia starting with the Witch Faba, her Cat from Hocus and Pocus along with Hill House, Fairy Web, Moon, Slender Mushrooms and Maylin. Try it on Tuesday would like to see Animals so my black cat should fit the bill. I think this will fit in at Sweet Stamping Feature a Sentiment and Double D have a new theme of Trick or Treat, also Ellies October challenge.

The last couple of days have been nice and bright and even warm'ish, so a trip round the paddocks and garden was in order to take a few photos starting with a haul of conkers.....old (childhood) habits die hard and I can never resit collecting, we have four Horse Chestnuts, three produced heavily, one has looked quite sad all season. Rosa then thought they made a lovely bed to roll on.

An abundance of Conference and Williams pears this year despite all the fruit trees being pruned hard last Autumn, most have now been harvested and laid up for the coming months. Holly's getting a nice collection of surgery jackets, necessary to cover the wound from her chest op in August, very slow healing where the stitches burst due to pressure from part of the tumour they couldn't remove. But she remains a happy girl and loves these short walks.

An abundance of berries on both the Hawthorn above and Pyracantha below. My Dad always said lots of berries forecast a hard Winter, we shall see.

The remaining outside cherry tomatoes have six plants continuing to produce well, the large San Marzano in the greenhouses are just about finished, has been a real bumper season so they've been gifted far and wide, family, Vet, nail bar and I've frozen down enough sauces and spag bols to feed the village.

And finally a beautiful and very large cobweb which stretched right across one of Margo's swings, Monday was very wet followed by a bright morning and mist so the spiders work was evident everywhere.

It would be lovely to see you at both of the challenges so hope you will come join in.