It's almost time to head home ........

Happy Friday ......

Ahoy there!! ......... from the Norfolk Broads.

Well our week long cruise is almost over (sigh!)  We're making our way, slowly, back towards Wroxham and the boatyard today, ready to handover the boat on Saturday morning.

I was hoping to have blogged a little whilst we’ve been away but unfortunately the internet has been a bit hit and miss.  Fingers crossed that this post has gone live as scheduled!!

I’ve got a little reminder for you today, for this month’s Craft Stamper Challenge

As always the theme is Anything Goes ....... you just have to include some actual rubber stamping on your project.

As we’ve spent the last week or so messing about on the river I thought a water themed project was an obvious choice .....

A really simple card, but I’ve used a few different products and techniques.

I started out with a piece of cardstock I found in my bits box, which I think has been coloured using Distress Oxide Inks with a little bit of metallic/pearlescent ink in there too ..... looking at it, it was possibly a mop up piece from a previous project

I stenciled the scale design over the top using Translucent Stencil Paste ........ I’m going for the mermaid look!!

I then stamped the fish and heat embossed him in gold, coloured him using Sparkle Inks and then fussy cut.

The sentiment was stamped onto a piece of card that had been stamped with a woodgrain design. I added some tiny brads and then attached it to the card front using foam pads.

I added the fish underneath and finished off with a few water bubbles using Nuvo Jewel Drops,

As always there’ll be two winners ..... the Design Winner which is chosen by the DT. They will get their winning project published in the Craft Stamper Magazine, a winner’s profile and, be invited to be a Guest Designer on a future challenge.

The Challenge Winner, randomly chosen, will get their hands on this month’s fab prize ...... four of the new Stazon Pigment Ink Pads AND 2 sets of Jane Davenport stamps!!

You’ve got to be in it to win it though ...... see you in the gallery!

As I've said, this years family holiday is almost over.  We’ve had a great week cruising the Norfolk Broads doing absolutely nothing!!    The weather has been gorgeous ..... we did have rain on the Saturday when we arrived but, the rest of the week has been lovely and warm, with sunshine and an occasional cool breeze ..... perfect sailing weather.

I’ll fill you in on what we got up to once I’m back on the island ........ with proper internet!!

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

Cheerio until next time .......

Products used:

Stamps: Under the Sea (IndigoBlu); Woodgrain stamp (Stampin Up!)

Inks: Distress Oxide Inks (various colours - blues, greens a touch of pink), Delicta Golden Glitz; Versamark; Versafine Clair - Nocturne, Morning Mist, Sparkle Glitter Inks (Crafter's Companion)

Others: Scales Backplate stencil; Translucent Stencil Paste (Sweet Poppy Stencils); Gold Embossing Powder (WOW!); Jewel Drops (Nuvo)

It's the Easter weekend .......

Good morning ......

Happy Good Friday! The long weekend starts here!
What have you got planned for the Easter weekend? I can't believe there's nothing in our diary so we're making the most of it and having a nice relaxing few days.  You'll find me in my craft room later ...... or possibly the hot tub!

I'm starting my weekend with the lovely Lucy and Sweet Poppy Stencils this morning.  They're back on the TV today ...... 10am (I'll just about make it I think!) and then again at 3pm this afternoon, on Hochanda (Sky 673, Freeview 85 and Freesat 817).
Lots of fabulous stencils, great pastes and finishes ....... the new Ultra-fine Glasss Micro Beads are amazing! And, there's some brand new stamp sets. Along with all the fab tips, techniques and demonstrations from Lucy.

Here's just a couple of cards I made for the show using the gorgeous Perfume Bottles ........

 
Classic black and white with just a hint of colour ......  I love it!

Simply a nice black ink sponged through the stencil ........ with just a touch of silver

A cute little satin bow attached on one of the bottles and a few ink splatters onto the background

The sentiment (from one of the new stamp sets) was stamped in gold ink and I also added a little bit of gold heat embossing to finish off, using just part of one of the sentiments

I've used the same stencil here, but with a little colour this time ...... and also added those gorgeous Micro Beads over the top ......

I used Oxide Inks through the stencil first to add the colour,  then applied the Translucent Paste over the top and finally sprinkled the Clear Glass Micro Beads onto the wet paste ......

Just look at that fabulous texture the beads create ...... so pretty

I added my sentiment, and a few dots of glitter glue here and there

And finished off by stamping around the edges to add a bit more interest

OK ..... I've just got time to grab a cuppa and get comfy on the sofa ready for Lucy's first show.  I do hope you can join me.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day and have a very Happy Easter.
No chocolate for me this year, this is my Easter egg .....

Meet Esther ...... the latest addition to the Walmsley family.  I just couldn't resist!

Cheerio until next time .....

Products used:
Stamps: Life is a Journey clear stamp set (Sweet Poppy)
Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Delicata Metallic ink - Golden Glitz, Silvery Shimmer; Distress Oxides - Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry
Other: Perfume Bottles stencil, Translucent stencil paste, Glass Micro Beads (all Sweet Poppy)

More Sweet Poppy samples ......

Happy Friday folks ......

The weekend is here at last!
It's been a busy old week .... we had a fab night out last night though. We were fed and watered in style with delicious food ...... Roy (the chef) is an absolute genius.  This was the menu .....

I won't bore you with photos of all the courses ..... everything was deeee-licious! The crayfish and ravioli was amazing

And the lamb ..... well

All of this was paired with the finest of wines introduced by Fleur, the owner of the Little Beauty Vineyard.

What a fabulous evening.
But, enough about that ... it's making me hungry!

I mentioned last weekend that Lucy and Sweet Poppy Stencils are back on our TV screens this month. Save the date ..... Friday 19th April. I'm not sure of the times yet so I will have to confirm those later.

Lucy will have lots of fabulous stencil designs on the show, along with the pastes, the gorgeous new Ultra-fine Glass Micro Beads and some brand new clear stamp sets.

Here's a quick look at a couple of designs using one of the stencils from the show.

The pretty Hummingbird Duo ..... a large and a small bird on the same stencil.  I've actually masked off each of the birds and used them seperately.

The small one to create an all over design using various colours of Distress Oxide inks

I simply turned the stencil over to get the bird facing the opposite way ....

A touch of glitter to the wings to add a bit of sparkle, and a few dots of glitter glue here and there.

And I finished off with a sentiment from one of the new stamp sets

I've used the larger of the beautiful birds with the Translucent paste this time and sprinkled the Glass Micro-Beads over the top

I had a piece of 'mop up' card lying on my desk ...... I think it might be Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide ink.
I stenciled the bird over the top, using the paste, then sprinkled a few different colours of the beads

The glass beads are so tiny, you don't loose any of the detail from the stencil ..... it's amazing

They give great texture too.

I added some detail down the edge using part of the Magnolia stencil and Distress Oxides inks ..... masking off the bits I didn't need again

And finished with a sentiment (from Penny Black) over the top.

I'll check the times for the shows and get back to you on that.

It's a busy day today, we have to be at the airport just after lunch. We've got some friends coming over from the UK who we haven't seen in ages ........ I think it's about seven years or so.  It's going to be great catching up with them ....... more good food and nice wine over the weekend!

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

Cheerio until next time .......

Products used :
Stamps: Life is a Journey clear stamp set (Sweet Poppy);  Happy Thoughts clear stamp set (Penny Black)
Inks: Distress Oxide Inks - various colours:  Versafine Clair - Nocturne
Other: Humming Bird Duo stencil, Magnolia Stencil, Translucent Stencil paste, Ultra-fine Glass Micro beads (Sweet Poppy); Quickie Glue Pen, Fine Crystal Glitter