Flowers, flowers and more flowers ...........

Happy Bank Holiday weekend .......

And what a lovely weekend we're having, the weather is glorious!  Just in time for the start of this years IOM TT Races.  

Yes, it's that time of year when the island welcomes visitors from all over the world, and the roar of motorbikes can be heard everywhere ...... we've even got the funfair coming back this year!  It's going to be a busy couple of weeks.

Did you get to see Lucy on Wednesday?  

She was back on TV with the gorgeous new range of Sweet Poppy stamps ..... Beautiful Botanicals.  Everyone loves flowers, and I've been sharing a few of my favourites over the last couple of posts.

So far I've used each of the stamps on their own for easy Clean and Simple (CAS) cards through to pretty all over designs.  But what if, you can't choose a favourite, you just want them all.  

Then, you can't make up your mind which one to use first so ......... why not use more than one on your cards, they all look so pretty together

This is a 7x7 inch finished card, and I stamped a whole bunch of the flowers to cover the front

 

and coloured them using Brush Markers

I added a simple foiled, die cut sentiment to finish off.

Colouring not your thing, then don't .......

Simply colour a background and then stamp the images using black ink

Coloured panels painted freehand, using Distress Oxide inks mixed with water, onto watercolour cardstock.

I then used a little bit of masking tape around the edge of each panel before stamping the flowers 

To finish, I added a few splatters of gold ink 

and a sentiment on the bottom

If you love these new stamps, this is just the first release.  There will be more coming over the next few months ...... watch this space!

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

I'm off to enjoy the sunshine, and get the BBQ ready for later.   

Cheerio until next time .......

Sweet Poppy Stencils are back on the TV ..........

Happy Tuesday ........

Well, our trip is over and we're back on the island ....... it is nice to be home!

It's going to be a busy few weeks though, we're off on our travels again on the 16th June.  

The van desperately needs cleaning, inside and out (Remi is covered in Scottish midges!!),  and I've a mountain of stuff to do at home. We've got this years TT starting at the weekend, looking forward to that.  The weather's not looking too bad either, at the moment, so fingers crossed we have a good one.

And, I have some DT stuff to squeeze in before we go away again so, the craft room is going to get some use.

Speaking of DT stuff, all you Sweet Poppy fans might like to know that Lucy is back on our TV screens tomorrow, 24th May at 12 noon on the usual channels ..... Sky 673, Virgin 748, Freesat 813 and Freeview 85.

She'll be showcasing gorgeous stencils and, those amazing new stamps from the Beautiful Botanicals range.  What a nice way to spend your lunch break.

It's so hard to choose a favourite from this latest stamp release, they're all so pretty.

I've already shared the Tulip with you, the Daffodil and the beautiful Sweet Pea so, how about ...... Foxgloves

I used black Versafine Clair ink,and the Sweet Poppy Postcard stencil to create the frame around the edge.

I then used low tack tape around the edge and added a touch of colour to the inside of the frame using Distress Ink

With the masking tape still in place, I stamped the Foxglove image three times onto the postcard and used the little bee that comes in the set as the stamp

I coloured the flowers using Brush Markers and added some ink splatters onto the background, finishing off with a few dots of glitter glue here and there and a simple sentiment

If you don't like colouring in your stamped images, these stamps can work just as well simply stamped onto a coloured background

For this card, I handpainted the background using Distress Inks and Oxides onto watercolour card ...... a technique I saw the lovely Julie Hickey do on Facebook

Once the ink was dry, I then stamped the Foxglove a couple of times and also added the little bee.

I added some gold splatters to the background and coloured the bee using a gold sparkle pen

To add a bit more interest to my card I took another piece of white card, larger than my piece of watercolour card, and stamped the Foxglove across the bottom edge using a black Versafine Clair ink

I then mounted the water-coloured panel over the top and added a simple sentiment. 

Another version of one of my favourite colour combinations ....... black and white, with a pop of colour!

Don't forget ...... tune in at12 noon tomorrow (24th May) and see more ways to use these gorgeous new Sweet Poppy stamps from the new Beautiful Botanicals Range

Thank you for popping by ....... enjoy the rest of your day.

I'm off to climb, sorry, I mean make a start on the mountain of laundry that we've brought home with us!

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

More Beautiful Botanicals from Sweet Poppy ..........

Happy Friday! .......

I hope you've had a lovely week.  And we've got another fabulous long weekend to look forward which is nice.

  

We've spent the last few days parked up on the banks of Loch Linnhe, on the Bunree Campsite.  It's been so peaceful and relaxing here ........ nowhere to be, no one to see ......... it's been great!!  We are on the move again tomorrow though, the trip isn't over just yet!

It looks like everyone is loving the new Beautiful Botanicals stamp release from Sweet Poppy, our Facebook pages are full of gorgeous floral creations.  Not surprisng really though as the stamps are so pretty.

One of my favourites from the new collection is the Tulip ........

So pretty used on it's own to create CAS cards.

I stamped the image in the centre of my card, and used watercolour markers to colour the stem.  I then added a few inks splatters onto the background around the stamped image, just to add a bit more interest ........

To colour the actual flower I decided to paper piece it using a snippet of card I found in my bits box (I never throw anything away!)

 

So quick and easy to do, and just think of all the different colours you could use!

Something that took a little more time was this all over design ......

I do love tulips so I couldn't resist using a whole bunch of them.

Stamped and heat embossed in gold ....... and then coloured with watercolour pens

A few gold ink splatters, and a two-part die cut sentiment to finish ..... love it!

Another pretty Spring flower is the Daffodil ...... 

Perfect again for creating CAS cards.

As with the tulip above, I simply stamped this int he centre of my card, used watercolour markers to colour the stem and then paper-pieced the actual flower heads .......

I added a little tag with my sentiment on, using foam pads to give the card a little bit of dimension

and I finished off with some dots of Nuvo's Crystal Glaze and a little bit of doodling around the edges

What will your favourite flower be?

As I said, we're on the banks of Loch Linnhe, enjoying our latest trip in the van.

The weather hasn't been too bad, no rain to speak of, the sun has shown it's face at some point everyday but, it has been a little on the breezy side the last couple of days ...... so no crossing of the Loch on this visit (shame, as there is a rather nice little pub on the other side, with a really good whisky collection!) 

The regular Corran ferry is out of action at the moment so there's a replacement doing the crossings for foot passengers only.  Apparently, it's not a very big boat, and it doesn't go if the weather's bad.  You know me and water, my sea legs are not the best so, we've stayed on this side so far.

We have been out walking nearly everyday though, sampling the local watering holes and restaurants, it would have been rude not too.  We also walked up to Inchree Falls, which was nearby.

A lovely forest walk up the side of the falls .......

There's spectacular views of Loch Linnhe and the hills around Ardgour from the top ......

and we came back down through the forests 

We're heading off again tomorrow, to a place called Ardtur near Port Appin ...... never been there before.

We've rented a beautiful cottage there for the week, and Lauren and Alex are meeting us there which will be nice.

Thanks for popping by ........ have a lovely Coronation Bank Holiday weekend.  We'll be watching it all on catch up!

Cheerio until next time .......

Mistletoe anyone!!! ...............Christmas card ideas using Sweet Poppy stamps

Happy Friday .........

I can't believe we're into double digits in November already ........ this month is flying by!

Did anyone catch Lucy and Sweet Poppy Stencils on the TV yesterday? ...... sorry I didn't give you a heads up!  

I think it was the last show for 2022 but, don't quote me on that, I could be wrong.

Don't worry, if she is back again before the end of the year I will let you know .... I promise.

Yesterday's show was focusing on some new stamp designs, Christmas ones, and of course some gorgeous stencils.  If you were watching I hope you managed to get what you wanted ...... everything sold out so fast!!!  If you did miss out on anything, check out the Sweet Poppy website, you'll find all the new products on there.

 

Are all your Christmas cards done or, are you like me and only just making a start?  To be fair, I am earlier than last year with my cardmaking and, I have started thinking about trees and decorations.  You never know they might just go up that bit earlier too!

 

Clean and simple (CAS) is the way I'm going this year for my cards, and the Sweet Poppy stencils and stamps are just perfect for that.

How about a bunch of festive Mistletoe .........

Stamped and heat embossed onto black cardstock, and then coloured using metallic/pearlescent paints

A touch of glitter on the berries and a little white paint splattered onto the background to give the look of falling snow

And a bit of festive red twine to finish off.

Same stamp, different look .......

You don't always have to colour in your stamped images, why not use coloured cardstock.

For this card I've stamped and heat embossed an all over design, and highlighted just the berries with a touch of crystal glitter ......

Then used a two part die cut sentiment as my focal point .......

Or, how about Kraft card ........

Heat embossed in white this time, and coloured with pearlescent paints again.  

I added some white Enamel Accents to the berries and sprinkled with glitter whilst they were still wet.

Splattered the background with white paint, added a sentiment and finished off with a bow ..... very festive!

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

It's looking like a quiet one for us, there's nothing in the diary .... yet!  

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

Happy World Cardmaking Day ........

Happy weekend ......

Welcome to October!

It's World Cardmaking Day today ..... how are you celebrating?

I've actually been in the craft room for most of the week ........ finally feeling human again after my last bout of Covid!!

 

I've been busy making samples for the next Sweet Poppy Stencils TV show coming up later this month.  There's some gorgeous new Christmas designs coming ......... but, if you can't wait for the TV show then check out the Sweet Poppy website because they are all available to buy now!  And guess what ....... if you place an order of £20 and over this weekend, use the voucher code SPCREATE10% at the checkout and you'll get 10% off your order total (not available on sale items or the Star Buy though).  This discount code is valid all weekend up to midnight on Sunday (2nd Oct) ..... UK time.  Go on, why not treat yourself!

You will have to wait a little longer though to see what I've been creating with them!

I've also been playing with some of the latest Sweet Poppy stamp designs.  I was away in the van when these came out so it's the first time I've used them.

They're from the Designs by Amelia range, and they are so much fun!  

What do you think of this little guy .........

Now I'm not a frog person at all but, this one is just too cute!

All the stamp sets are A5 size, and you get a nice large main image along with a few extras, and a selection of sentiments included.  (the 'kiss me I'm a prince' is not included with the Tree Frog stamp set though, it's from my own stamp stash)

The stamps are easy to use and the images are so detailed.  

As I always say, even though the stamp is large, you don't always have to make large cards.  This is a standard DL card and as you can see, he fits nicely.

I coloured him using the new Sweet Poppy Watercolour Brush Pens ...... these are brilliant, and so easy to use. 

I stamped the leaf again and fussy cut, then attached it with foam pads to add a touch of dimension

A few ink splatters in the background and a sentiment from the stamp set to finish ......  as I said, the one underneath is an old stamp of mine by Magnolia, I just couldn't resist using it. (I've kissed a few frogs before I found my prince!)

Another one from the same range is the Elephant ........

Again stamped and heat embossed, and coloured with the brush pens

A few extra leaves added, and a touch of gold splatter

to tie in with the stamped sentiment ....

And finally the Chameleon .........

Just think of all the colours you could use for this image.  

I chose to use pearlescent paints and I did fussy cut him ........  a little fiddly, but nothing too bad!

I love how striking he looks against the black card.

Here he is again ....... different colours this time 

Stamped, embossed and coloured with pearlescent paints.  Fussy cut just around the bottom edge this time ......

and then attached over a simple painted background

I really love how these have turned out.  I'm not usually a fan of colouring in large images but these just seem to work.  Wouldn't they make great cards for teenagers!

Dont' forget that voucher code if you're shopping at Sweet Poppy this weekend.

SPCREATE10%

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

I think we're off to make a start on the Christmas shopping tomorrow ...... oh joy!  Well, I suppose there is only 12 weeks to go!! 

Cheerio until next time ......