We're back!! ..........

Happy Wednesday ......

Can you believe were in June already!!!!  How's your week going so far? 

It's all go here on the island.  What with the TT that's well underway,  and the Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend coming up, there's loads going on.

This month also sees the return of the CAS Mix Up Challenge! ......... whooo hoo!!!  Have you missed us?

It's so nice to be back after our little break, and we've got a fun challenge for you this month.   

We're kicking things off again with a Stencil challenge.  

There's lots of ways to use stencils but for this particular challenge we'd like to see you use them with Pastes or Gels

There's lots of different pastes and gels out there ..... from simple white embossing pastes, or clear gels that dry glossy or matte, through to glitter pastes, crackle pastes, or gels with different textures in them.  And of course you can always create your own.  Check out the video links on the challenge post for some great tips and techniques.

Need some inspiration?  How about a pretty floral card using the new gorgeous Peony stencil from Sweet Poppy

I used Distress Inks first to apply the colour through my stencil

I removed the stencil and cleaned off any excess ink before placing the stencil back over the top of the colour.

I then applied Translucent Stencil Medium to the flower heads, over the top of the ink.  I carefully removed the stencil and whilst the paste was still wet I sprinkled some clear Ultra-fine Glass Microbeads over the top and left it to dry

The ultra-fine beads are tiny, and they give a lovely fine texture whilst letting the colour show through

To add a bit more interest to the background I used a piece of acetate to smoosh a little more of the Distress Ink colours on there

and then finished off with a simple sentiment.

Check out the fabulous makes from the rest of the Design Team and, to celebrate the return of the CAS Mix Up Challenge we have not one, but two amazing Guest Designers this month.  Julie (Crafted by Jules) and Darnell (Djkardkreations) are both joining in the fun, so be sure to pop by and say Hello!

I can't wait to see you all in the gallery ....... it's great to be back!!

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

As I said it's so busy here at the moment, TT fans are arriving by the ferry load everyday and the roar of motorbikes around the island sounds amazing!

Practice week is in full swing and, we got our TT celebrations off to a good start on Sunday evening when we went to see Jessie J .........

We had a great night ...... she was amazing!!!

So, this week we have the long Bank Holiday weekend to look forward too. We've got some friends comming for a BBQ tomorrow, then it's Mad Sunday.   Hopefully we'll get up to the Grandstand at some point over the weekend, and then it's race week next week,  with the Red Arrows coming over on Tuesday, and we have another bank holiday here next Friday, for Senior Race Day ...... its all go!! 

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

Supplies:

Stencil: Peony (Sweet Poppy Stencils)

Inks: Distress Inks - Kitsch Flamingo, Mowed Lawn; Versafine Clair - Nocturne (for the sentiment)

Stamps: better with age (Penny Black)

Others: Translucent Stencil Medium; Ultra-fine Glass Micro beads - clear (Sweet Poppy Stencils)

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)

Good Friends are like Stars ......

Happy Thursday ......

It is Thursday isn't it?
Hubby had the day off on Monday, then he worked from home on Tuesday, and now I've no idea what day of the week it is!!!

We had a fabulous weekend though.  We had some friends over for a few days and even though we hadn't seen each other for about seven years, we immediately picked up just where we left off.

The weather was glorious so we spent four days out and about.  We went from North to South with everything in between.  Lots of good food and nice wine, barbeques with the family ...... and the hot tub got used for the first time this year ......

Just look at that sky .....

We even saw seals in the south of the island .......

enjoying the sun down on the rocks at the Sound.

It all went by so quickly ....... hopefully we won't leave it as long next time!!

As you can imagine there wasn't a lot of time spent in the craft room over the weekend.  Luckily most of the 'To Do' list for last week had already been done.

Here's a few more of my Sweet Poppy Stencil makes that will be on their way to Lucy very soon.
It's all about Elephants today ....... using one of the fabulous Sweet Poppy Stencil designs
You do get two elephants on the stencil, a large one and a really cute small one.
For this design I've used the large one and turned the stencil over to get the elephant facing the opposite way.

I stenciled the elephants onto a piece of white cardstock using Distress Oxide inks .....

I then stamped the sentiment underneath and fussy cut around the top edges of the elephants

I found a piece of card in my stash that reminded me of a galaxy sky.  I think it's been done using the Distress Oxide Sprays onto black card ....... not sure what mix of colours exactly though.  Probably pink, blue, a touch of purple and some splatters of white ink in there too

It made the perfect backdrop for my elephant friends ...... especially with that sentiment.

Here's the cute little one, stenciled across a piece of white cardstock to make a baby card .....

Distress Oxide ink again ......

And a simple sentiment stamped and heat embossed underneath .....

And I added two scalloped borders top and bottom,, cut from white cardstock and coloured with the same Distress Oxide ink

Finally the large elephant again ...... I found a piece of cardstock in my stash, perfect colour for what I wanted but unfortunately not quite big enough to fit the whole of the elephant on.

Not a problem ..... you know how I like to sometimes use only part of a design.
I stenciled the elephant onto the bottom using Black ink

 and then added some foliage to the top using one of my favourite Sweet Poppy Designs ......

I stenciled some leaves in black ink and then used the Pearlescent Paste for the last one, and added some Ultra-fine Glass Micro Beads over the top ....... these add great texture.

I also used the same stencil to add some extra detail down the side .....

And finished with a sentiment .......

Lucy will be on our screens on April 19th ........ watch this space for details of times.

EDITED ....... thanks to the tip off from the lovely Darnell (Thanks hun .... mwah!)
I'm entering the first card and the last card into the latest Twofer Challenge

As you can see the theme is Zoo Animals ..... so I guess these fit the bill

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.
It's the craft room for me today ...... I've a workshop to prep.

Cheerio until next time .....

Products used:
Stamps: Life is a Journey clear stamp set; Cheers clear stamp set (both by Sweet Poppy)
Inks: Distress Oxide Inks - Picked Raspberry, Twisted Citron, Salty Ocean; Versafine Clair - Nocture
Others: Elephant Stencil, Leafy Flowers stencil (SweetPoppy); Pearlescent White Stencil paste, Ultra-Fine Glass Micro Beads (SweetPoppy); Background cards from my stash, Versamark ink; Silver Embossing Powder (WOW!)

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