National Coffee Day Blog Hop .......

Happy Sunday .....

I hope you're enjoying your weekend.

Are you a coffee lover?  Fancy a fun Blog Hop?
If your answer is Yes then you're in luck.  Uniko is one of the stamp companies taking part in the National Coffee Day Blog Hop

The fun all starts over at Coffee Loving Cardmakers but you can check out all the details over on the Uniko Blog
I'm joining Bev, and a few more of the Uniko Brand Ambassadors (previously known as the DT) to play along with the Blog Hop.  Do you like our new name ...... posh or what!

If you fancy joining in there's prizes along the way.  Uniko have a £25 Gift Certificate up for grabs.  All you have to do is comment on the Uniko Blog Hop post and the Brand Ambassadors posts to be in with a chance of winning.

I do like a nice cup of coffee so this little stamp set is perfect for me .......  Uniko's  I Love Coffee

I simply stamped the coffee cup in two different colours, masked off the body of the cup and used some of the smaller stamps in the set to decorate the cups, before fussy cutting around them

I stamped the sentiment directly onto my cardblank .....

added a few gold ink splatters onto the background

and then used foam pads to attach the coffee cups

You have until midnight on the 6th October to comment on the blog hop so Happy Hopping!

Think it's time for a cheeky coffee here.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy what's left of your weekend.
This time next week I'll be on the lovely island of Santorini .... time to start the countdown!

Cheerio until next time ......

Products used:
Stamps: I Love Coffee (Uniko)
Inks: Distress Oxide Ink - Aged Mahogany; Spectrum Noir Harmony Opaque Pigment Ink - Grasshopper; Versafine Clair - Nocturne
Other: Delicata Ink pad -  Golden Glitz (for the splatters)

We're nearly there ........

Happy Thursday .......

How's your week going ....... fast if it's anything like mine!

It's been busy in the craft room ...... I'm trying to get ahead with all my DT stuff as we've got a crazy few weeks coming up.  Would you believe our next free weekend is the beginning of November!!!  Hubby's away this weekend, then we're away on holiday next weekend.  We're back on the island for a few days then we're off to the UK for another weekend. 
Then it's workshop weekend .......that's going to be a busy one.  And then hubby's off to Blackpool for a weekend for a Poker Tournament.  It's all go around here!

Speaking of workshops, here's a little look at the last one.
We used Lavinia stamps to create beautiful moonlight scenes, in Autumn and winter shades. 

Easy scene building using masks with Distress Inks and Oxides ......

Pretty Lavinia fairies .....

Trees and foliage, and simple embellishments .....

We also went a little bit festive with the gorgeous Sweet Poppy Poinsettia stencil ....

Distress inks and oxides again, a little bit of the gesso resist technique, and LOTS of glitter

And of course a touch of my favourite festive product .... chunky white embossing powder

Another popular colour way was a green and gold version ......

Gold ink through the stencil on a delicate Distress Ink background and then covered with glitter

We were all a little bit sparkly by the end of the afternoon!

There's just three pages left to complete and  now, and we're doing them all next month! 
Not sure what's going on them yet but I'm sure I'll figure it out ...... suggestions on a postcard please!

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.
You can also find me on the Uniko Blog today with a little bit of DT Inspiration.  That's on a festive theme too.  Simple Christmas card ideas using stencils, pastes and different finishes.

Right back to the craft room ..... it's magazine stuff today.
Cheerio until next time .......

Let's end the week with a Blog Challenge ........

Happy Friday .....

Are you ready for the weekend?
It's been a lovely week here ....... busy, both in and out of the craft room, but what's new!

The weather has been gorgeous on the island too.  We've had lovely sunshine for most of the week but you can tell Autumn is on it's way.  There's a nip in the air in the mornings, and the leaves are all starting to change colour .... I do love this time of year.

Let's get the weekend started with  Uniko's Challenge #55 

The theme is ........ Anything Goes,  and we have the perfect optional twist for you this month ....... Autumn

I went with the colours from the inspiration photo ...... I do love the Autumnal shades

I used the pretty Uniko Chrysanthemum stencil, and a few Autumnal shades of Distress Oxide inks.  I love how these inks blend and they work beautifully with stencils.

I started in the bottom corner of my card and used the stencil over the edge.
I then took some Post It notes and masked off around the edges, before brushing along the inside edges to create a simple background panel, and add a bit more interest  to the card.

The sentiment has been stamped using gold ink .... always works well with the Autumn shades, and I added a few Nuvo Crystal Drops, again for a bit more interest.

The Autumn colours are definitely starting to appear in the craft room.  It'll be my wardrobe next. I can't wait, all those lovely layers gorgeous in berry shades ........ and boots!!

The challenge is open until midnight (GMT) on October 25th, so there's lots of time to play along.  The winners will be announced on the Uniko Blog on November 1st.

As I said its been a busy week ..... I've had everything from shopping and lunch out with Lauren, to dancing with the Legends of Disco!!!  And, I also took delivery of a drum kit yesterday ...... don't ask!!!
Thankfully it's not for the other half.  Our eldest rang the other day and said ..... Mum,  I've bought a drum kit, can I keep it at yours? (it might have been an idea to ask first but hey! ..... ) 
How long it's going to be here exactly I've no idea.  It's currently in the garage.  Hubby says it'll be great at parties ...... oh joy! Something to look forward to.

We're off out again this evening, just a quiet one though as I have a workshop tomorrow! 
It's also the little man's birthday this weekend ..... Alex is 9 tomorrow.  He's growing up too fast!

He's got a birthday party with his pals at lunch time .... I think it's Laser Blast.  Then Grandad is taking him shopping to get the rest of his birthday present(s) and then, we're all off out for dinner ...... again!  Alex's choice this time ..... we're off to The Forge (yum!) ....... a delicious steakhouse and grill and the desserts are not bad either!

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

Cheerio until next time ......

Products used:
Stencil: Pure Florals - Chrysanthemum (Uniko);
Inks: Distress Oxide inks - Wild Honey, Fossilised Amber, Spiced Marmalade and a touch of Aged Mahogany
Stamps: 
Other: Nuvo Crystal Drops

There's still time to play along with the CAS Stencil challenge .....

Happy Wednesday .......

It's time for our mid-month reminder for the CAS Stencil challenge.  Have you played along yet?  Don't worry, there's still time if you fancy joining in.

Julia is our host this month with a really fun technique challenge theme ........ it's all about using Baby Wipes with your stencils.
Check out the CAS Stencil Blog for links to a couple of fab videos showing this technique.

I used baby wipes with a Waves stencil to create the ocean background for my little fishes.

First I masked off a section on my card front, and then applied blue Distress Inks onto the open panel

I then placed my stencil over the top and used a baby wipe to gently remove some of the Distress Inks, leaving the wave design behind.

I stamped the fishes onto a seperate piece of card, coloured them using ZIG markers and then used the matching dies to cut them out.

These were then attached onto my card using foam pads.
A few dots of Crystal Glaze to create the look of bubbles .....

And a sentiment from the stamp set to finish off.

You can find more inspiration for this months challenge on the CAS Stencil Blog, along with a fab  project from Sarah (Funky Fossil Designs), who is joining us as our Guest Designer this month.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.
We're off to the Gaiety Theatre again this evening, to see The Legends of Disco - The Three Degrees and Odyssey ...... that's going to bring back some memories.
I was a mere teenager when Native New Yorker (Odyssey) was in the charts ..... and only 12 (oh dear! was it that long ago!!) when the 3 Degrees released When Will I See You Again.
Funny thing is, many years later, probably around 1990/91 (ish), hubby and I bought a new car .... a white Ford Mondeo, our first 'family' car. 
It was only 3 months old and had had one careful lady owner.   That lady owner was ....... Sheila Ferguson, the lead singer, at that time, with the 3 Degrees!!!!  It's a small world.

Now where did I put my dancing shoes?!

Cheerio until next time ......

Products used:
Stamps: Gill Friends (My Favourite Things)
Stencil: Waves stencil (Sugar Pea Designs)
Inks: Distress inks - Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire 
Other: Gill Friends matching Dies (MFT); Crystal Glaze (Nuvo); White Gel Pen

Today's the day! .......

Good morning ...... Happy Tuesday,

I'm up bright and early this morning and raring to go!  OK ..... I'm still in my PJs but, I am on my second coffee so, any minute now!!

Today's the day for all you Sweet Poppy Stencil fans.  Lucy is back on Hochanda ..... Yeah!
Not much longer to wait, the first show is at 10am, and then she'll be back again at 2pm.

I've just got one more of my show samples to share with you today ...... the fabulous Steampunk Butterfly ........

This stencil is fab!  It's so detailed, and such a great size.
I've used it here on a piece of card I found in my stash (previously coloured by mopping up gold and silver metallic inks)

I used the stencil with the Glossy White paste and then carefully sprinkled over the top (whilst the paste was wet) with mica powders.
The paste was then heated gently and that's when all this gorgeous texture came through ..... cool or what!

 
The paste slowly bubbles and rises whilst the colour from the micas bonds with the paste .... I never get tired of seeing this technique.  Don't be afraid to try it!

I finished off with my sentiment and a few black ink splatters.

I also used the stencil to create the design for the background ...... kraft card and a brown Distress Oxide

Highlighted with a Startdust Gel Pen here and there.

Enjoy the shows ...... there's a bit of everything coming up.  The Dragon is back, there's pretty floral designs, and of course a little bit of Christmas.

Thanks for popping by ..... have a great day.
It's going to be a busy one me.  I took the day off yesterday and spent the day with Lauren so now I'm playing catch up.  Hopefully though by the end of today I'll have some finished projects and I'll be able to see my workdesk again!!

Cheerio until next time .......

Products used:
Stencil:  Steampunk Butterfly (Sweet Poppy)
Stamps: Life is a Journey (Sweet Poppy)
Inks:  Distress Oxides - Brushed Cordroy, Black Soot (ink spaltters); Versafine Clair - Nocturne
Others: Glossy White Stencil paste, Mica Powders; Stardust Gel Pen

Perfectly CAS (using only one third) ........ fancy a new challenge?

Happy Saturday .......

I hope you're enjoying your weekend.

This is so exciting.  In case you haven't heard, there's a BRAND NEW Blog Challenge launching today ......  Whoo Hoo!!!   Well, it's launching on the 15th which is tomorrow I know but, it's based in Australia so it's already tomorrow over there .... if you know what I mean!
The idea is from Kylie (Happy Little Stampers, Addicted to Stamps and More etc) and I'm absolutely thrilled to be part of the Design Team ..... I love CAS!

Do you like creating Clean And Simple (CAS) cards?  Or are they your worst nightmare?  Ever tried to create that perfect CAS design but,  you can't stop adding just that little bit more?

If that sounds familiar, then this is the challenge for you ......

 PERFECTLY CAS (using only one third)

It's all about using just one third (or less) of the gorgeous white space on your card.
Check out the Perfectly CAS Blog for a full explanation of what this means, and all the details on how to play along.

So ..... when I think Clean and Simple (CAS), what comes to mind is .....

• one main focal point
• lots of white space
• minimum layers and embellishments

Sounds simple enough but,  it's not a style that everyone finds easy to create.
Well now it is.  Just imagine your card is divided up like this ....

Now using the grid as a guide, use just one third of your card.
That could be the left or right side, top or the bottom.  You could use the centre horizontally, or right down the middle top to bottom.  You could even go diagonally. 
Saying all that though, it doesn't have to be exact.   Your 'third' could be slightly to the left or the right.  More towards the top or the bottom, or slightly off centre.  As long as you don't use more than one third of the available space you'll be fine.  You'll create a beautifully CAS design every time ..... I hope that all makes sense!

Each month the challenge will have different theme so, as well as keeping things CAS, using one third or less, you must also follow the monthly theme ......

To get things started with our very first challenge, the theme is a nice simple one ..... Flowers.  
We all love pretty floral designs.

I've started at the top third of my card and stamped the pretty floral spray from an Altenew stamp set, off the top edge.

I heat embossed the image in gold, and then coloured it using ZIG markers and a waterbrush

Still keeping in that top third of my card, I added a few ink splatters and some pretty gemstones .....

and finished with a sentiment underneath.

So, are you an expert at CAS? or, is this style completely out of your comfort zone?  Either way why not join in the fun with this brand new Blog Challenge.  I hope to see you in the gallery.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your weekend.
It's one of my favourite weekends on the island ....... it's the Isle Of Man Food & Drink Festival!!
The Villa Marina gardens have been taken over yet again to showcase all the delicious produce this fabulous little island has to offer.
There's everything from local lamb, beef and pork, to delicious seafood.  Tasty breads, coffees, cupcakes and biscuits.  Cheeses, salamis and spices.  Chocolates, Christmas puddings and ice creams.  Some of the islands eateries are there serving their delicious food .... I had the best beef rib sandwich EVER!!!!   Oh! ...... and there's gin!!

For us foodies, it was the only way to spend Saturday!

Cheerio until next time .....

Products used:
Stamps: Handpicked Bouquet (Altenew); Tiny Words Sentiment Stamps (Simon Says Stamp)
Inks: Versamark ink; Golden Glitz (Delicata ink)
Other: Gold Fine Detail Embossing Powder (WOW!); ZIG Clean Color Brush Markers;