Just about made the deadline ..... I hope!

Good morning ......... Happy Tuesday!

It's the last day of June and I've managed to squeeze in another entry for this month's Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge.

This month it's all about using Sprays and Mists .......

For today's card I've used sprays in a couple of different ways ....... misting with water, and straight from the bottle!

It's still a CAS design though .... with lots of white space.

I stamped the gorgeous Tim Holtz butterfly onto a piece of white cardstock, just slightly over one edge.  I then stamped the image again, this time onto a piece of card that I'd coloured using Brushos.
If you haven't tried these yet ....... I call them 'little pots of magic' ..... they're pots of highly pigmented ink powders, which can be used in many different ways, one of which is to sprinkle the powder onto cardstock (you only need a tiny amount so they'll last ages!) spritz/mist with clean water, and then watch the colours explode!

The more water you add, the more the colours will spread. Also depending on what type of cardstock you use, you'll get different results.

I fussy cut around the butterfly and then attached it to the card over the top of my stamped image, trimming off the edge to match the card.

I then added a sentiment .......

and then using some co-ordinating Distress Spray Stains (Picked Raspberry & Mustard Seed) I added a few ink splats here and there.
To do this I took the top off the spray bottle and then flicked the ink over the card using the plastic tube attached ..... easy!

A little bit more on the inside .......

along with some nice words ...... and job's done!

If you're VERY quick ...... there's still a little time left to get your entry in before the deadline closes.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.
 
I'd better get a move on ......I'm off out for coffee this morning, catching up with a friend.  I don't think she would be impressed if I turned up in my PJ's and slippers, do you?

Cheerio until next time ....

Linda

xx

Back to business ......

Happy Monday evening!

Right!!!  Holiday is over (sigh!) ...... suitcases are unpacked, and the washing's done.  The last of our new furniture has arrived today (yeah!!) and finally all the removal boxes have GONE!  (whoo hoo! ...... not doing that again anytime soon ........ remind me I said that will you, when we get the brilliant idea to move again!) oh, and ..... the old craft room door is well and truly open.

I'm not leaving the island, no trips away planned (for the next three weeks at least that is!) so I've no excuse ...... back to regular blog posts!!! (fingers crossed!)

We had a fab week away ..... as usual, eaten too much, drank too much, and spent far too much!!  But what the hell .... you can't beat quality time with the family ..... that's just priceless!

We didn't spend all week lazing by the river .... honest!  One day we had a trip into London ..... on the train, which the little man was very excited about, especially when we went on the Underground.
We went to the National History Museum and saw the Dinosaurs ......

and the Blue Whale ......

Even called in the gift shop for our own Dino stash to bring home (of course!) .....

We walked through Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens, stopping off for a walk around the Diana Memorial ...... someone got a little wet

We went to see Buckingham Palace ......

and of course ...... Big Ben

And to finish the day we took a trip on the Thames, down to Tower Bridge .....

Phew!  What a busy day ...... I don't know how the little man kept up but he did!!  And he loved every minute of it!!

While we were away, we even caught up with hubby's parents, they came down to Bourton for a few days which was nice.  There were FOUR generations of Walmsley men together ..... that doesn't happen often .....

But, it's back to business as usual ..... July is going to be a busy month!  I just need to get the old mojo going again.  

I'll be back tomorrow (I promise!) with a VERY last minute entry for this months Happy Little Stampers CAS challenge.

Thanks for popping by ..... it's nice to be home!

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

Taking it easy by the river ........

Happy Sunday!

Enjoying your weekend? .... I hope the sun is shining where you are.

Me .... I'm down in the Cotswolds,  Bourton-on-the-Water to be exact, and it's a beautiful day.  This is home until Friday.....

Fairlie Cottage, on the banks of the River Windrush, right in the centre of this beautiful little town.
We're enjoying some well earned, relaxing family time after all the madness of TT fortnight.
I won't bore you with lots of photos .... here's just a few of the highlights of our first couple of days

Grandad had a little help loading the luggage into the car .....

After a short flight to Gloucester, we picked up the hire car and before we knew it we were back in beautiful Bourton.

Meet the neighbours .......

We did arrive a little early, the cottage wasn't quite ready for us, but no worries, off we went to find a spot of lunch and light refreshment .....

What better way to spend a Friday afternoon .... lazing by the river with beer (or a cheeky G&T in my case!) and of course .... an all important ice cream

We got friendly with the locals .....

Even hubby tested the water .....

Until it was time to enter our holiday home ....

It's going to be a good week ....

Thanks for popping by ........ if you're doing anything special for Father's Day ....enjoy!

Cheerio from the Cotwolds ..... until next time ....

Linda

xx

Sprays and Mists for Happy Little Stampers

Happy Thursday folks!

Another quick post before I close the old craft room door for a few days.  It's not exactly tidy in there but who cares .... there's going to be no-one here to see it!!!  Only one more sleep then we're leaving the island for a week of rest and relaxation.

Before I go I've got a little something for the latest CAS Challenge from Happy Little Stampers.  The theme this month is ......

 Sprays/Mists  

I won't be able to enter next month (shame!) ... seeing as I'm on the DT (whoo hoo!) so here goes .....

Sprays and Mists .... hmmmm ......  not everyone's go to craft stash item but I love them!  and I really should use them more often.  No two pieces will ever turn out the same, and they can be so unpredictable ..... but that's half the fun of using them!!  There must be a knack to them, I just haven't found it yet!

I've used a piece of card from what I call  my 'bit box' ..... we've all got one, a box where we keep all our 'well that didn't turn out quite as I expected' pieces, and you know me, I don't like throwing anything away so mine is getting quite large now.   

So .... I delved deep and came up with this piece of watercolour card that I'd coloured using Brushos and a water spray.

I do love these little pots of magic ...... you never know what you're going to end up with.  

I took a piece of watercolour card, brushed it all over with clean water then added my Brushos ..... Rose Red and Lemon (I think!)

I then spritzed the whole thing with more water and just watched the colours spread.  

I trimmed the piece down to size, edged around it using a Gold pen and then attached it onto a piece of white cardstock.

I added a nice simple die-cut (Prim Poppies from Memory Box) in plain white card ......

and then finished off with a simple sentiment from Penny Black .....

For the inside, I kept it really CAS .... using another of the pretty poppy die cuts ......

and another PB sentiment.

Do you use sprays or mists/ ..... why not enter the challenge.  You can find all the details here.  Go on .... join in the fun.

Well that's about it from me.   Before I go though I'd like to say a big Hello and Welcome to my latest follower ...... the  number's up to 208 now!!!!  Thank you so much ..... all of you ...... for sticking with me, and taking the time to read my ramblings, I do appreciate it you know, and I love reading the comments you leave!  

Oh well ... better go ..... hubby needs help packing his suitcase!!!!  

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx 

It's all Red and White .......

Happy Wednesday .... what's left of it!

Finally .... I've got a minute to myself.  Everyone's been fed and watered, the house is now clean, the washing and ironing is all done and MY suitcase is packed!!!!

Yes we're off again!  Only one more day to go before the whole family are off to the Cotswolds for a nice, relaxing week doing absolutely nothing!!!

I have had time though, to squeeze in a quick card for this week's Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge ........ way before the deadline too!!! (unlike last week!)

The theme this week is ......

Red and White

I said it was a quick card .......... CAS or what!!!!

Die cut letters from red glitter card, using an old Cuttlebug alphabet die ......

..... onto the centre(ish) of a piece of white card.  Then finished off with a festive greeting, stamped in red Versafine ink ......

A few embossed lines top and bottom of the words, and jobs done!

Oh! there's a little something on the inside too ......

I know, I know ..... the words are not RED .... but the poinsettias are .... hope this still counts!

Well that's me done for today ........ thanks for popping by.  I'm off to bed for a well earned early night ...... the first one in a long time!!  Night Night!

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

Quick catch up before I'm off on my travels again .........

Happy Tuesday!

Well .... we survived another TT fortnight ...... just!!  
We had a fabulous week last week ........ not much time spent in the old craft room though, I'm afraid!
Hubby took the week off work and we had a ball!  The weather was glorious, and we were out and about every day .......  it felt as though we were actually on holiday.

Here's a quick catch up on race week ........
Tuesday evening saw the Red Arrows fly in over Douglas Bay .......

Always fun to watch ....... especially sat up on the terrace with a nice bottle of red ..... cheers!

We saw quite a bit of the racing ...... down at Bray Hill, up at the Creg and two days on the park at the Grandstand.  We got a lovely spot ........ well Lauren and her boyfriend did!  They did the early starts, we joined them later.  We were right by the roadside, just down from the start line and the pit lane .....

And ...... close enough to get to the enclosure when the winners came in ......

Here's John McGuinness, the winner of the Senior Race on Friday, closely followed by the number 2 James Hillier ........ it suddenly got very noisy down there!!!

And of course here's Guy Martin ....... he had a good race, unfortunately he finished 4th though (sigh!)

Never mind ..... only 347 days until it all starts again!!

I did manage to spend some time in the old craft room yesterday ..... I've got birthday cards to make, Father's Day to sort out, as well as catching up with some Blog Challenges.

It's One Layer Week over at Less is More ...... you all know how I love those!!, and the theme this week is ......

Home

Very CAS, lots of white space.  

The words are from Inkylicious, and the cute little cottage is by Clarity

I added a touch of colour and shading using my Spectrum Noir Pencils and I finished off with a little heart at the end of the sentiment, coloured and then Wink of Stella'd ........

One layer ..... and only one attempt, almost unheard of!

That's it from me today...... busy week ahead.  We're going away on Friday ........ a nice family trip over to the Cotswolds ...... I can't wait!  Lots to do before then though ..... including going to a craft workshop this afternoon.  

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

A quick reminder ...... Take a Technique

Happy Friday folks!

It's the weekend again ...... yeah!!  And it really does start today!
The skies are blue, the sun is shining, it's Senior Race Day at this years Isle of Man TT and ..... it's a Bank Holiday over here ..... what could be better!

But, before I head off out to grab a spot over by the Grandstand, I've got a little reminder for you of the current Craft Stamper Take It Make It Challenge.
It's the turn of Take a Technique and this month we'd like to see ......

Texture

on your projects ........ and a little rubber stamping too don't forget!

There's loads of ways to add texture to your projects ..... embossing folders, use textured cardstock, add ribbons and lace. or use texture paste like I've done for my DT inspiration piece today .....

Another home decor piece for you ...... a CAS design that could go in any room.

Adding texture doesn't always mean using layer upon layer, it can be really quick and easy to achieve.  I've used  a 6x6 inch canvas board, which in itself is textured ......

I gave it a good coat of black gesso and then dry brushed around the edges with some white acrylic paint.

I then used a pretty stencil and some white texture paste to add my floral design ......

I love black and white, a great combination and always looks good.

I finished off the flowers with nice large co-ordinating gemstones ...

and I mounted the canvas onto a larger board (12x12 inch) ...... a neat trick I learned from the very talented Barbara Gray from Clarity.  I added some rubber stamping ..... not much but it is there......

Just a simple word .... I chose Bloom from one of the JOFY stamp sets, but it could be anything you like.  

I stamped the word onto some white card, cut around it and just slipped it under the bottom edge of the black canvas .... simple but effective.

Hope you like it ...... now its your turn.  

There's a fab prize up for grabs from this months sponsor ....

A voucher to spend (who wanted want that!) .......

And ...... don't forget there's the Design Winner too ...... their winning design published in the Craft Stamper Magazine ..... ooh!  A Guest Designer spot on a future challlenge ..... ooooh! AND a winner's profile on the Craft Stamper Blog ...... oooooh!!!  All this could be yours ...... all you have to do is get your entry in ..... have fun and good luck!

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day and have a great weekend.  

I'm off now to pick my spot for the day, down at the TT Grandstand.   The fortnight didn't get off to the best of starts weather wise, but it's sunshine all the way to the finish line!  It's been a great race week ...... lets hope it's a great Senior Race Day ..... can Ian Hutchinson make it 4 TT wins this year or is 2015 going to be Guy Martin's year .... fingers crossed!  Come on Guy!!!!!  (he's my favourite by the way!)

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx