One of Eileen's online workshops ........

Happy Thursday .......

How are you today?  

It's lovely here on the island, the weather has finally noticed that Spring is on its way I think ..... I hope so anyway.  It's nice to see some sunshine.

I've been catching up with some online workshops lately ..... these have been keeping me sane over the last few months!  

My crafty mojo hasn't been up to scratch, I've taken a little time off from some of my DT commitments and I've been spending some days in my craft room just doing things for me, and learning a whole load of stuff too!

Workshops with the very talented Eileen Godwin have been loads of fun.  The link will take you to her Facebook page ......... check it out if you haven't already, she's amazing!

These are my projects from last month's workshop (I haven't done February's yet ..... it's on the list for next week!)

This was right up my street.  Great layering techniques using designer papers, paints, stencils, stamps, inks ..... whatever you've got.  I loved it!!!

If lots of layers aren't your thing,  we created CAS designs too ......

I even managed to save one that I wasn't happy with.  You know how it goes ...... ink where it shouldn't be, colours that weren't blending as I wanted them to.  

You all know I don't like throwing things away so, I went back to it a couple of days later.  Carefully added a touch more ink to get a better blend,  managed to get most of the ink off where I didn't want it (I love my Distress inks!), used a large sentiment stamp over the top, and a few strategically placed gem stones and  ...... voila!!

I Love it!!  There's always a way to fix things!

As the weather seems to be changing for the better ..... fingers crossed ...... it's time to get the van ready again so we can enjoy exploring our little island (and hopefully further afield later in the year!)

Our little motorhome is almost a year old and poor Remi has been sat patiently on the drive all winter.

We have been checking him regularly, we just need to restock the cupboards, top up the gas, give him a wash and polish and then we can get out and about again ........ let the adventures begin!

Thanks for popping by ....... have a lovely day.

Cheerio until next time .....

CAS Christmas Card Challenge ........

Happy Friday! .......

I know .... can you believe it's Friday again!  This week has whooshed by .... mind you it has been half term here on the island so the little man has been at home this week, which always keeps me busy!

I've been playing catch up in the craft room this week.  Finishing off workshop projects from weeks ago, sorting through all the stuff that's lying around and ....... I'm joining in with the CAS Christmas Card Challenge for the second time this month!  Yes .... another card for the festive box.

The theme this month is ........ Dogs and/or Cats

I have a few Christmas kitty cats but, apparently not that many festive pooches!  I did find this little guy though, on a Penny Black stamp set ........

I cut a mask from copier paper to create the shape of the hillside, and with this in place over the bottom half of my card, I stamped the Christmas tree

I then stamped the dog off to the side, and coloured him using ZIG brush markers ..... he looks so cute all bundled up in his hat and scarf!

I added a touch of glitter to his hat and some onto the tree, and stamped a sentiment underneath

To finish I sprinkled on a little Chunky White Embossing Powder and heated from underneath to give a snowy look, and also added a small, gold embossed, die cut star to the top of the tree

So far so good with the festive card making ...... fingers crossed I can keep it up!

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

Cheerio until next time ......

Products:

Stamps: Winter Tree, Christmas Critters (Penny Black); Scribbly Christmas (Tim Holtz) for the sentiment 

Inks: Versafine Clair - Rain Forest, Nocturne; Delicata Pigment Ink - Golden Glitz; Versamark ink

Other: Zig Clean Color Brush Markers; Quickie Glue Pen, Fine Crystal Glitter; Sparkly Gold embossing powder (WOW!); Chunky White Embossing Powder (Stampendous)

CAS Mix Up Challenge ........

Happy Monday ..........

How was your weekend?  Not long enough ..... I know how you feel!

But we're at the start of another week and, as we're half way through February already it's time to remind you about this month's CAS Mix Up Challenge  .......

The lovely Nancy is our host for February and the theme for this month is ..... Stencil Heat Embossing

If you haven't tried this before give it a go, it's so much fun.  Check out the CAS Mix Up Blog for some fabulous links to videos showing you ways of using this technique.

We've all done heat embossing with stamps but, it's also a great way of achieving a different look using with your stencils. 

This was so simply to do ..... I've stenciled the vase and then heat embossed to give a nice textured look, completely different than using just ink through the stencil.

I stamped the flowers first and added a touch of colour using ZIG markers and a waterbrush to blend the colour

I then took my vase stencil, placed it over the bottom of the flowers and used Versamark ink through the design.

I removed the stencil and sprinkled embossing powder over the top and heat set in the usual way ......

I love the result, the powder is made up of different sized grains, and different colours and gives a fabulous textured look ..... I love it!!

I grounded the vase with a little ZIG marker, and added a simple sentiment to finish off.

The challenge is open until Feb 24th so there's still time to play along if you fancy giving this technique a try. 

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

Cheerio until next time .......

Products used:

Stencil: Vase stencil (Clarity)

Stamps: Flower Medley, Special Sentiments (Penny Black)

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versamark ink; Delicata Metallic Pigment ink - Golden Glitz

Other: Black Magic Embossing Powder (WOW!);  ZIG Clean Color Brush Markers

Make a splash for the Perfectly CAS Challenge .......

Happy Sunday evening .......

And a Happy Valentine's Day to you 💖  I hope you've had a lovely day. 

It's time to get the next Perfectly CAS Challenge underway ...... you know the one, where you have to use just one third, or less, of your card space.

We're on Challenge #12 and the theme for this one is ........ Splash

I decided I'd go cute for this one ..... 

I started with a stencil and Distress Ink to create the look of waves along the bottom edge of my card

I added a touch of sparkle to the sea with some fine crystal glitter ........

....... and then stamped my sentiment just above the waves

The cute little dolphin was stamped onto a snippet of left over card, coloured using Distress Ink and a water brush, and then die cut using the matching dies

He was then attached onto the card with foam pads to add some dimension.  I also stamped the 'splash', coloured with the same Distress ink that I used for the stenciled sea and then added a layer of Glossy Accents over the top to give it a wet look (not sure this shows well in the photo, but trust me it's there).

So, how will you make a splash for this months challenge? ...... can't wait to see your designs in the gallery.

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

It's take away and movie night for us, with the little man.  We're working our way through The Hobbit films (again!) ..... Alex hasn't seen them before. We're on the second one this evening .... lets hope I can stay awake, we're watching the extended version!!

Cheerio until next time .........

Products used:

Stamps: Friends with Fins stamps and matching dies (MFT); Sentiment from my stash

Stencil:  Waves stencil (SugarPea Designs)

Inks: Distress Inks -Tumbled Glass, Hickory Smoke (for the dolphin); Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Other: Quickie Glue Pen; Fine crystal glitter; Glossy Accents 

February's CAS Christmas Card Challenge ........

Happy Thursday ......

I hope you're enjoying your week.  Is it really seven days since I blogged ...... must do better!

  

I'm not quite sure where the last week went, I haven't really done that much, and I still haven't ventured out of the house, well, apart from a trip to see Chris.  He moved house last week and the new place is lovely.

I have spent quite a bit of time in my craft room, taking part in more online workshops.  I'm really enjoying doing stuff just for me!  No deadlines, no pressure, and if you watch them on replay, you can pause the video while you catch up ........ I'm learning loads too, which is fun!

I also made time to play along with February's CAS Christmas Card Challenge ......  yes, that's right more Christmas cards.  Well we did have a flurry of snow this week ..... nothing like what's been falling across the whole of the UK though ..... unfortunately!  Snow always puts me in the festive mood!

Anyway, here it is ....... 

You guessed it, the theme this month is ....... Dogs and/or Cats

I used an old wooden Penny Black stamp, and stamped the kitty directly onto my card base (one layer .... always good for posting!)

I coloured him using ZIG markers, and added a touch of sparkle with some fine crystal glitter onto his rather large Santa hat .......

And then finished off with a simple sentiment underneath .......

Very festive!

Well that's another one for the Christmas box ....... Ho! Ho! Ho!

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

I'd better get started on the evening meal ...... someone's saying he's hungry!

Cheerio until next time ....... 

Products used:

Stamps: Jolly Xmas Kitty (Penny Black)

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne;

Others: ZIG Clean Color Brush Markers; Quickie Glue Pen; Fine crystal glitter

My journal's almost full ...........

Happy Thursday .......

How are you? ...... I hope you're enjoying your week.

It's done nothing but rain here ...... all week!  Perfect weather for staying warm and cosy in the craft room.  Even though we're out of lockdown I have absolutely no desire to go anywhere!

I mentioned in the previous post that I'd spent last week taking part in an online workshop with the lovely Tracy Scott.

Oh my goodness ..... what a fabulous fun week it was.  We were creating layered backgrounds, and I did all mine in one of my large Dylusions journal (which is nearly full now ..... I'm so excited!!)

Here's a few pictures of my end results .......

Day 1 ..... lots of paint, stenciling and stamping

Day 2 ........  loving using the bright colours

We even managed a bonus page ......

Day three ..... rainbow colours 

Day four ...... I loved how this turned out, there's so many layers on here.  Collage papers, paint.  Stencils, stamps and mark making.  Pen work, splatters, you name it, it's on here.

And finally Day five ...... wasn't sure about these pages when I started but, I stuck with it and I'm happy how they've turned out.  

I do love Tracy's use of colour, and her journaling style. Check out her Creative Cafe page on Facebook there's loads on there, and maybe try one or two of her workshops.

It's STILL raining out there ....... not only do we have the hot tub at the back, we now have a lake, and it's getting bigger

The flamingos are hubby's idea ..... nothing to do with me!! (I don't really go for plastic garden ornaments ..... if that's what you can call them!!)  

This is what happens when he's bored and looks on Amazon!

At least they match the fabulous new Distress colour from Tim Holtz ...... now these I am looking forward to receiving!

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

Cheerio until next time .....

February's CAS Mix Up Challenge ...........

Happy Monday .........

Well, January didn't hang about did it ...... welcome to February!

And ....... we did it!!!  As of today, our little island is out of lockdown again ...... whoo hoo!  Schools are back, all shops, restaurants bars etc., are open.  No more social distancing.  Our 'normal' is back.  Our borders are still closed though so we ain't going anywhere anytime soon, but that's OK

It's a new week, a new month and it's time for a new CAS Mix Up Challenge.

It's a stencil challenge this month, and the lovely Nancy is our host.

We all use our stencils with coloured inks and paints but, have you tried Stencil Heat Embossing?  That's the theme of our challenge this month.

  

When you're heat embossing with stamps you would generally use a Versamark or an embossing ink, well these inks work the same way when used through your stencils.  But, how about using your embossing powders on your coloured inks, for example Distress Oxides, Versafine Clair or even regular Distress Inks.

As it's February, I thought I'd make a simple Valentine's card.

I used a pretty heart stencil, shades of pink Distress Ink, and heat embossed using a clear powder.

 

I used a sponge to apply the colour through the whole of the stencil, building up the layers gradually, starting with my lightest shade at the bottom, going darker as I went up the card to create an ombre effect. 

I then removed the stencil, applied the clear embossing powder over the top and heat set it.

There were some gaps where the ink had dried too quickly, and the embossing powder hadn't stuck so, I simply replaced the stencil over the top, added some more ink and repeated the heat embossing until all of the hearts were covered

I used a die to cut out an aperture for my sentiment to sit in ..... cutting it off the edge to add a bit more interest to the card and I added a stitched frame over the top for a more finished look.

I hope you give this technique a go, it's another great way of using your stencils.  

If you're still not sure then pop over to the CAS Mix Up Blog.   There you'll find more inspiration from the Design Team, links to some great videos using this fun technique and, meet our Guest Designer for this month ....... Arlene is joining us, so please stop by and say Hello.

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

I'm off to clean the craft room now ...... it could take a while, you should see the mess in there!   

I had a fabulous week last week taking part in a 5 day online workshop with the lovely Tracy Scott.  We were creating layered backgrounds using paints and inks, stencils and stamps, mark making ...... you name it we used it!  We even made our own stamps and stencils ....... it was so much fun. 

I'll show you the results later in the week.

Cheerio until next time ........

 

Products used:

Stencil: Heart Stencil (Clarity)

Stamps: Kisses & Wishes (Penny Black)

Inks: Distress Ink - Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Worn Lipstick

Others: Clear Embossing Powder (WOW!); Circle die; Stitched Circle Frame die; Self Adhesive gems