I'm back ........ for the CAS Mix Up Challenge!

Happy Sunday ......

Welcome to August!  I hope you're all enjoying the weekend. 

After taking July off from the CAS Mix Up Challenge ......... we should have been away in the motorhome but, we ended up moving house instead! ........  it's so nice to be back for this month's Stencil Challenge.

Jenny is our host for August, and she's chosen a fun technique for you.  Maybe it's something you’re already familiar with or, it could be that you haven’t tried this before ...... Stamping through stencils.  A great way of extending the use of your stencil stash, and your stamps too!

I’ve kept things relatively simple for my inspiration piece, using circle stencils to create the look of apertures, and then used my stamps over the top .........

With the stencil securely in place, I applied Distress inks through the circles using a blending brush.

Then, without removing the stencil, I stamped the little characters in place .......... so cute!

I then used coloured pencils (Faber Castel Polychromos) to colour them in.

I added a bit more interest by inking a few more circles here and there to create a bokeh effect, and then finished off with a stamped sentiment and a few sparkly gemstones.

This is such a fun technique to try. Experiment with your stencils, the more open the stencil design is, the more stamping you will see. It’s a great way to add design and texture, and give your stenciling a different look. I can’t wait to see your cards in the gallery.

You’ll find lots more fabulous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team over on the CAS Mix Up Blog, and this month we have not one, but two amazing Guest Designers.  Bobby (Bits & Pieces) is joining in the fun, along with Michele (I Card Everyone), so be sure to pop by and say Hello.

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks around here, as I said we should have been going away in the motorhome on our first adventure off the island, but plans changed and we ended up moving house instead.

We’ve spent the last two weeks packing and moving boxes (we have so much stuff!!!!!) but we’ve finally moved in to the new place!  It still looks a bit like a bomb site, I can’t find anything, and it’s ‘fun’ trying to find out how all the new kitchen appliances work but, we’re getting there slowly.  I've only changed my kitchen cupboard contents around twice since we moved in, and my desks in the craft room have be changed around a few times but, I think I'm happy now!

There is just one major problem ..... we have no internet yet (argghhhh)!!! There’s a problem, apparently, with the supply to the house and they need to do maintenance on the ‘pole’ outside. We found this out on the day they came to install it ........ last Thursday!!  The little man is not happy.

We’re having to hot spot our mobile phones and use the limited signal as and when we can, which is not good!  This blog post has been a challenge I can tell you!

They are on it ...... apparently.  Things will get interesting tomorrow (Monday) when hubby is back at work ...... he might just have to go into the office for the first time in months!!!

Because of all this things may still be a little quiet for the next few days here on the blog but I promise normal service will resume eventually!

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

We're off out for Sunday dinner with the family, the rest of the unpacking can wait!  

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

Products used:

Stencils: Bokeh Stencil Set (multi layer design) (Newton's Nook)

Stamps: Jungle Friends (Creative Expressions); Critter Crowd (Simon Says); Happy Birthday from my stash 

Inks: Distress Ink - Broken China, Mowed Lawn; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Delicata - Golden Glitz

Other: Faber Castel Polychromos Pencils; Small gem stones

A walk on the wild side .......

Happy Tuesday ......

I've got the little man here to keep me company today ...... there's only one more week left of the school holidays.  That six weeks has flown by!!  Luckily he's looking forward to starting junior school.
He's had a great summer break I think ...... he's been here there and everywhere. The beauty of this island is there's always something going on .... somewhere.
He even managed to grab a quick photo with the great John McGuinness, who's back on the island for the MGP/Classic TT.

Dare I say, the weather has improved, and racing has finally got underway.  You can see just how misty its been though, from the photo above.

Alex also had a couple of birthday parties to go to while he's been on holiday, and guess who got the job of making the cards?
Funnily enough I don't do a lot of kids cards so there were none in my stash (note to self ..... add childrens cards to the to do list!)

Here's what we came up with though .......

As one party was up at the Wildlife Park, that was my starting point.
I've had these stamps forever and they'd never been used.  They're old Creative Expressions Designs called Jungle Friends and Monkeying Around ....... I had great fun playing around with these, as you can see ......

Lots of die cut apertures  ........ various stamped and coloured jungle friends

A little extra foliage here and there and a few ink spaltters .....

And more on the insides too .....

I even decorated the envelopes ......

Oh well .... must dash I've got a lot to do.  Hubby is on his way home ....... Whoo Hoo!!
He's left Melbourne a day early.  They managed to get everything done that needed to be done work wise, so he changed his flights home by 24 hours. 
He's currently on a plane to Dubai .... and it's around half past midnight I think, Melbourne time (3.30pm here in the IOM).  Then, it's Dubai to Manchester, leaving Dubai in the early hours,  and finally Manchester to Isle of Man, hopefully arriving on home soil around 3pm tomorrow, assuming there's no delays.  It's a heck of a journey, even in Business Class ..... jet lag is going to be fun!
Looking forward to having him home though.

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

Cheerio until next time .....