A moment of Clarity ..... for Merry Monday

Happy Tuesday folks!

How's your week going? I can't believe we're into double figures already ...... August is flying by!!
We've got another nice day too, here on the Isle of Man ...... it's a shame to be in the old craft room when the sun is shining but ...... with a 'To Do' list that's getting longer by the day, needs must and all that.  Let's hope the nice weather lasts until the weekend ..... there's a lot going on.  We've got the IOM Queenie Festival ..... always a fun day out especially if you love seafood!!  Poker Stars have got their Treasure Hunt on Sunday .... again, always a fun, very competitive, day out.  And I've got a crafty get together too ......  a busy weekend!

Before all that though .......... there's lots to get through this week.  I think we'll start by going a little bit festive ...... I know ...... it's hard thinking of Christmas designs when the sun is shining, but .... it will soon be here at this rate ...... only 5 more paydays until the BIG day (eeek!!)

Merry Monday is still running two-weekly challenges which is good for me ..... I stand a chance of making time to enter.
The latest challenge is all about using Pastel shades ....... very different to the traditional colours, so pretty!

Here's what I came up with ......

Out came some of my favourite Clarity Christmas stamps ...... from the 'Twas the Night Before Christmas range.
I love these .... use them individually, all together ...... there's 10 in the collection,  or just two or three like I've done here.

I've stamped each one in grey Archival ink (Watering Can), and then used Spectrum Noir pencils to add the colour ..... keeping to just the pastel shades.

I shaded around the edges of each one using a co-ordinating Distress ink ....... Spun Sugar around the pink, Tumbled Glass the blue and Milled Lavender for the lilac.

I then took a large piece of white cardstock (to fit an 8x8 square card), again shaded around the edges with one of the Distress colours (I chose Spun Sugar) and then stamped my favourite, well used, much loved, Clarity Christmas Trees across the bottom edge .....

I added in a sprinkling of Fran-tage Chunky White Embossing Powder to give the look of falling snow, and of course a touch of glitter in there too .....

A bit of matting and layering to frame each of the stamped images, and then they were mounted onto my card using foam pads for a touch of dimension ......

I added a festive greeting on the inside and more of those gorgeous trees ......

All of the stamps I've used can be found on the Clarity website ..... under the Christmas section and .... not only that .... those fab trees are on special offer this month.  Go on ..... why not treet yourself!  Sorry!!!

Oh well .... as much as I would love to stay and chat, the old craft room is calling!
Before I dash off though  ..... I mentioned we were off to the Manx Royal Agricultural Show last week ......

We had a lovely day and ...... I did get to see the Barclays Premiership Trophy.  There it was, sat in the Barclays tent ..... all shiny and BIG!!

Pity it didn't have the Chelsea ribbons on ...... it is still ours after all.  Whether that will still be the case at the end of the season ...... after last weekends performance who knows.  Not the best start was it!!!

And on that note I'll say .....

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

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

2 for the price of 1

Happy Thursday!

I don't know whether I'm coming or going this week ...... still trying to catch up with stuff from last weekend ..... and it's all getting ready to start again ....... and it's nearly the end of the month!!!  I could do with an extra few hours each day I think .... maybe I give up sleep for a while!!!!

I have managed to squeeze in a couple of blog challenges this week ...... I've done a 2 for 1!  I know ...... that doesn't happen very often.

It's another one for the Christmas box ........

I'm entering this into the Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge .... where the theme this week is to ......

use Newsprint

I stamped my sentiment in the centre(ish) of a piece of white card and added a few sprinkles of Fran-tage embossing Enamel (Shabby White and Chunky White) to add a bit more interest to the background.

I then glued an old bookpage on to a piece of white card and die cut my festive blooms using the Spellbinders Poinsettia die ..... there's my newsprint used!

I inked around the edges of the flowers with a little Distress ink, to give a bit more dimension and then layered up each one adding in a few festive red layers too.  A bit of green foliage, and a few gems for the centres and jobs done.

Now for challenge number 2 .......  this week's Less is More.

It's Recipe week and we have to .......

 Use Some Metal

As you can see my piece of metal is a small jingle bell in the centre of one of my poinsettia's.  A nice CAS design, lots of white space.  I love it when things come together!  

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

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

A Pinch and a Punch for the 1st of the month .....

White Rabbits!!!

Happy St David's Day.
No daffodils here I'm afraid ........ I've come over all festive again.  It's time for my Merry Monday challenge entry for this week.
It's challenge #97 and we have to ........ Sparkle & Shine using the colours  Aqua, Silver & White

I do like this colour combo for Christmas cards ..... it always creates an icy look I think.  Here's what I came up with .....

I used a mix of snowflake stamps from Tim Holtz and Inkadinkadoo, and stamped using the new 'Forget Me Not' Archival ink by Wendy Vecchi along with Smokey Grey Versafine.
The sentiments, both inside and out, are from the Penny Black 'T for Transparent'  Christmas Cheer stamp set.

You can see the Fran-tage has been out again ..... I love this on Christmas cards (can you tell!).  There's also something on this card that I don't use very often these days ...... mirri card (that's where the silver bit comes in).  I've used just a touch in the matting and layering ......

My sparkle is not very much I'm afraid ...... I've added a single gemstone to the centre of the large snowflake

I think that's all it needs ... but that's just me.
As always, the inside has been decorated to match ..... it's even had the Fran-tage treatment (actually it was to cover up a mistake but we won't say anymore about that!)

Well, that's Christmas design number 7 done and it's only March.  I must say I'm feeling rather pleased with myself.
Thank you to everyone that popped over to my blog last week, and for all your lovely comments.  This challenge really is fun to be involved in.

I've noticed that I've got some new followers this week too ..... Hello and Welcome, it's nice to have you along.

Thanks for popping by today ...... have a lovely weekend.   I'm off to get the old craft room organised for what's looking to be a very busy month.  I need to get off to a good start this next week because I'm away for a few days the week after.  And it's my birthday on Wednesday too .... looks like I'll be spending it working (if that's what you call it!)

Until next time ...... cheerio folks!

Linda

xx

Time for Merry Monday .....

Happy Thursday folks!

Busy day ahead ...... there's still quite a bit on the 'To Do' list for this week, and it all needs to be finished by the close of business TODAY!  It's time to lock myself away in the old craft room and get some work done!!
I've a  nice weekend to look forward to though, starting tomorrow ....... my big brother and his family are coming over for the weekend - yeah! That's why I need to get everything done.

It's Merry Monday time again ....... my weekly Christmas card!  Yes I'm still keeping up with this challenge ..... I received another Honorable Mention last week for my Rudolph card,

Thanks ladies ...... it's most appreciated.

The theme this week is .......

Use HOLLY on our cards

I had to think about this one .... then I remembered I had a die that I didn't get around to using when doing last years festive makes (hmmmm .... there's a surprise!) so I thought I'd give it an outing.

The die's from Penny Black - Holly Berries (51-019).  It's a really pretty, delicate die and cuts beautifully.

I used green cardstock, and added the berries using fine red glitter

You can see I've been Fran-taging again (I love this stuff!!)  I stamped my sentiment onto a piece of white cardstock (Penny Black stamp 3243F .....the most)

and then sprinkled the chunky White Embossing Powder around the words, to give the look of snow and add a bit of interest to the background

I cut two of the holly sprigs, and cut one down a little for the front of the card.  Nothing was wasted though as you'll see later.  I added a pretty satin bow to tie them both together

I mat and layered with the traditional red and green colours (to match the holly) and here's where the left over bit went ......

..... to decorate the inside, along with one of my favourite Christmas sentiments .... another from Penny Black.

Well I suppose I'd better get a move on ..... things to do and all that.

Thanks for popping by today, enjoy your Thursday.  

I'll be back tomorrow for the new IndigoBlu Challenge.  If you haven't entered the current one there's still a little bit of time left ..... the theme is From the Heart and you have until 8pm TONIGHT  to get your entries in.  As always there's a great prize up for grabs ...... but you have to be in it to win it!

Cheerio for now ......

Linda

xx

3 out of 3!

Hi there,

Happy weekend ..... hope you're having a good one.  
It's been a bit chilly over here today ...... definitely the sort of weather for staying toasty warm indoors which is just what we're planning to do this weekend. 

I've been in the old craft room busy with Design Team stuff,  but I've managed to squeeze in ..... wait for it ....... some Christmas cards too!!!  Yes I'm on a roll, thanks to the Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge.  Not only have I put together an entry for this weeks challenge, I've even made some more of my Jingle Bells card from the first week in January.  Well, I'd die cut all the bells, and tied all the bows, and they've just been sat on my desk ever since.  If I hadn't done them now they would have disappeared under a pile of stuff or I would have put them somewhere 'safe' and then come November time I wouldn't have been able to find them, so I thought it best to get them done ...... it's four more for the festive box!  That gives me a grand total of (drumroll) ........... including today's ......... that makes SEVEN!!
At this rate all my Christmas cards will be done by July ...... well maybe not July ...... but I am hoping that by December I'll have a nice collection and all I'll need to do is write them and send.

For this week's challenge we had to use Colours, with Ribbon  ........

Use the colors Red, Vanilla, Kraft and

 Chocolate with Ribbon

  

Quite the list ....... After gathering all the ingredients together, here's what I came up with ..... a bit of a vintage feel this week.

The stamps I've used are from the Tim Holtz Deco Christmas set which came out last year.  

I think everything on the list is on there.  There's definitely Red ..... I stamped my own background card using the pretty little poinsettia stamp from the set, and Red Geranium Archival ink - one of the Wendy Vecchi colours.

  

The Vanilla is the the cardstock that I stamped the gentleman onto - and the actual cardblank.

I started out with vanilla cardstock then I added Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Distress inks, and also blended in a touch of Aged Mahogany around the edges.  I then used my favourite technique of flicking water over the inks to remove some of the colour to give a snowy background effect.

I've used Kraft cardstock to mat and layer, and the Chocolate part is the colour of ink I've used to stamp the lovely gent and his wreath ....... Potting Soil, another from the Wendy Vecchi Archival range.

And that's where the ribbon comes in ..... a sweet little bow tied using some co-ordinating vintage seam binding.

I've finished off with a sentiment, added some Fran-tage Chunky White Embossing powder to give the effect of falling snow, and some pretty die cut, red poinsettias ......

That's three weeks into the year and three Christmas card designs ....... let's hope I can keep it up.

Oh well, it's back to the DT stuff I suppose ...... the deadline is approaching fast.

Thanks for popping by, enjoy the rest of your weekend.  Keep warm and craft is my advice.

Cheerio for now

 Linda

xx 

PS   I see that Blogger is playing with me again ....... don't ask me why the text is smaller than normal on this post.  I've tried all ways to change it but it's just not happening!  Hopefully things will be back to normal on my next post (fingers crossed!) 

Doesn't Time fly ........

Happy Friday everyone,

Welcome to my new followers this week.  Thank you for taking the time to share in my crafty journey,  it's nice to have you along.

It's a little bit chilly on the Isle of Man today, and it's SNOWING!!!  Nothing like what parts of the UK are getting but the white stuff is definitely falling.  I don't think we're getting enough here in Douglas to cause any major problems (famous last words!) but, up on the mountain road is a different story .........

These are pictures taken this morning from the IOM Webcams up there ...........Brrrrrr!!!
We're off across to the UK tomorrow morning (hopefully!) I'd better wrap up warm I think.

The reason for our little trip across is Lauren's birthday.  She was 21 yesterday, and we're having a little family get together on Saturday.
Where has that time gone, I ask myself.  My baby's all grown up ......... and she now has a baby of her own. How old does that make me feel ........!!?!!

As it's a special birthday I had to make a special card ......

....... it's even got a box!  Here's what's inside ......

I hope she likes it ........ it's a 'more is more' sort of card.  I got a bit carried away I think.  There's a lot of my favourite products on there, Fran-tage, Mega Flakes, the Indigo Blu Vintage Flourish stamp  ......

I've used my Cricut machine for the numbers (Storybook cartridge), and a Tim Holtz Alterations die for the clock ....

..... which has been painted and crackled to give an aged look. 
Of course there had to be a key on there somewhere too, and I had to put lots of flowers, a handmade paper rose, ribbon, lace, beads, glitter for a bit of sparkle, you name it, it's on there ........

The inside has been decorated too, just to finish it all off ....

As I've said, I hope she likes it. 

Well, that's another busy week nearly over.  I've just to do my weekly post over on the Creative Studios DT Blog then I can close the old Craft Room until Sunday. 
Here's a sneaky peek of this weeks project ........

a little something for the guys again .... maybe.


Have a lovely weekend.  Stay cosy and warm.

Cheerio for now

Linda

x

What's Christmas without a bit of Glitter and Sparkle

Hello again,

What's this I hear you all say... nothing for nearly a week then TWICE in one day!

I'm trying to catch up with everything before the silly season really gets underway.  As I said earlier, Lauren arrives tomorrow with that little angel of a Grandson of mine.  I want to be able to spend as much time as possible with them so I'm going like the clappers trying to get everything finished.

The last of my Christmas cards has just been written (phew!) now all I need to do is get them in the post tomorrow.

Before I venture out on a spot of late night shopping, I just wanted to share with you one of my Christmas cards that I made with the latest Penny Black Saturday Challenge in mind.

Their Challenge this month is ........

GLITTER AND SPARKLE

What's Christmas without a bit of glitter and sparkle eh!  There was a time when I didn't make a card without glitter on it, not just at Christmas time either.  No sparkle, then it couldn't have been one of mine.

How things change.  

Here's my entry ......

There's quite a bit of sparkle on here, although I couldn't capture it in the photo.

I've used the PB stamp Fantasy Tree for my background, stamped and embossed in Disco Black embossing powder

You can see a bit more of the sparkle here, still better in real life though.
For my snow effect I've used Chunky White Fran-tage.  I don't know if I've mentioned it before but I LOVE these embossing powders.
The little snowman is also a Penny Black stamp, and I've stamped him onto acetate using a Black Stazon ink then coloured in the image, from the back, using fine glitters.  Doing it this way, the glitter doesn't shed.

I finished it all off with a few sparkly snowflakes stamped around my little winter scene, a sentiment from the Penny Black clear stamp set Christmas Cheer and a festive red ribbon.

I think I'd better go and dust all the glitter off me before I go out.  Just caught a glimpse in the mirror and I look like something off the Christmas tree.  I've just answered the door to my delivery man too, no wonder he was smiling ......... !!

Look who he brought .........

Meet Charlie Bear's 'Michaelmas' ........  he's my Christmas present to myself.  I just couldn't resist this little guy when I saw him.  He's soooo cute.
I bought a Charlie Bear for Alex last year and I didn't want him to take him home.  Well Grandma has her own now.

I just need to find somewhere for him to sit - preferably away from the glitter!

Enjoy your evening

Cheerio for now

Linda

x

At last!

Happy Friday everyone!

I had quite a productive day yesterday, even if I did get soaked to the skin whilst in town.

I posted my first lot of Christmas cards, after taking out a small mortgage to cover the postage costs.  I really should think about these things when I'm making the cards - no big bows, no metal embellies, NO foam pads.  Ah well, at least it's only once a year, and the cards were pretty!!!  Friends and family are worth it.

I did some Christmas shopping, stocking stuffers this time.  I also bought some more Christmas decorations to fill the spaces on the tree.  You know how it is, the tree looks perfect as that last bauble goes on.  Then over the next few days as you sit and look at it, you spot the odd gap here and there.  Well, I've no gaps now and I'm happy with the tree again.

My search for the perfect under garment for my evening dress went better than I thought.  I found something suitable without too much trouble.  Cost me a small fortune but at least it holds it all in, pushes it up where it should and, I can still breathe, which is a bonus!

I also got around to making my first family Christmas card - yeah!!!
I must confess I did have a bit of help.  I fell in love with this stamp a while ago when I saw it on Kath Stewart's fabulous Blog. I decided then I just had to have it and use it for my family cards this year. It's from Stampendous and it's called 'Snowy Postcard' 

My inspiration came from Kath herself, check out what she did with it here, a stunning card as always.  And another of my blog friends, the lovely Avril over at Mrs B's Blog.  Take a look at her version here.  Again, another stunning design.
Thank you so much ladies, I hope you don't mind.

And here it is ......... my version 

I just have to make another 6 now.
All the background layers are done though, and each one is slightly different.  I just need to Fran-tage them, do the extra layer, and put them all together.
I love the how the Fran-tage gives a nice snowy look to the scene, I've added a  touch of glitter to the rooftops too

I decided it would be quicker to add some die-cut holly leaves to the frame instead of colouring in and cutting out the ones that are there .......

........ so I used the Festive Greenery die from Tim Holtz and added some red gems for the berries.
A big satin bow adds the finishing touch.

The inside has been done too .......

As I said, 6 more to do then it's another trip to the Post Office.  That's my weekend sorted then.  Or maybe not.  It's the Christmas Do tomorrow night - lots of festive spirit.  Which probably means I'll be a little delicate, shall we say on Sunday.  Ah well, it's Christmas! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Have a lovely weekend.  And if you get any of the snow that I keep seeing being forecast over in the UK, keep cosy and warm.

See you next week

Crafty hugs

Linda

x 

PS    Oooh,  I almost forgot.  As it's Friday it's my day to post on the Creative Studios DT Blog.  Here's a sneaky peek of this weeks project ........

some quick and easy Christmas cards.  To see them in full you'll have to pop over there and take a look.  Cheers!  xx