There's still time to play at CAS Mix Up ......

Happy Tuesday .......

I hope you're well.

If you haven't played along with this months CAS Mix Up Challenge don't worry there's still plenty of time left.

Joanna is our Host for September, and the theme is all about Embossing with Dies ..... a relatively new technique for me so this challenge has been fun.
Don't forget it's a Mixed Media month which means you need to a) follow the theme, b) include some stamping on your card and c) add in one other Mixed Media element.

This was really easy to do, it just took a bit of time embossing the background. 
Just think of all those sentiment dies you have in your stash ...... all those backgrounds you can create!

I simply took my happy die and repeatedly embossed it down the centre of a piece of white cardstock filling the whole piece

I then actually die cut the word, twice, from white cardstock.  I watercoloured one using ZIG markers and then layered the two together and attached it over the top of one of the embossed words on my card

I added a touch of shimmer to the letters with a Wink of Stella pen ..... always difficult to photograph!

I stamped a small sentiment and trimmed it into a banner, and then attached it underneath .... card done!

I've really enjoyed embossing with dies this month, I hadn't tried this technique before but I shall definitely be using it again. 
If it's new to you too, then check out the video links on the CAS Mix Up Blog for some amazing ways to use this technique, and you'll also find more fabulous inspiration on there from the rest of the Design Team.

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

Cheerio until next time ......

Products used:
Dies: happy die (Winnie & Walter)
Stamps: Birthday Messages (Mama Elephant) 
Other: ZIG Clean Color Brush Markers; Clear Wink of Stella sparkle pen

There's still time to play along with the Sweet Poppy challenge .....

Good morning!

Is it Monday already? ........ I hope you've had a good weekend.  

We did absolutely nothing ..... well apart from catching up with all the boring stuff like washing and ironing, paperwork and tidying the craftroom, not a job I look forward to!  

But, everything is done now, so I can concentrate on organising and packing for our family Staycation coming up at the weekend. 

Don't forget Lucy and Sweet Poppy Stencils are back on Hochanda tomorrow (Tuesday 15th Sept) at 3pm and 7pm.  

And speaking of Sweet Poppy, have you played along with this months challenge? ...... there's still plenty of time if you fancy joining in. You never know, you could be the winner of this months mahoosive £40 voucher to spend on the Sweet Poppy website.

The theme this month is .......

   

Hues of Blue 

The rules are simple ......

• Create a project following the challenge theme and post a picture on the Simply Sweet Poppy Stencils Facebook Page
• Include in your post "Sweet Poppy Challenge ..... and the theme"
• Each person can have a maximum of three entries per challenge
• Use ONLY  Sweet Poppy stencils on your project ...... but other branded mediums can be used with them ..... pastes, inks, paints etc.
• If you use stamps, on your designs then please make sure that they are an accent only.  Your stencil MUST be the focal point on your card ....... this is a Sweet Poppy challenge after all!

There's been a few questions this month regarding what you can and can't use.  

To be in with a chance of winning the challenge prize, using OTHER BRANDED STENCILS is a definite No! No!, even if they've only been used as a background ....... this is a Sweet Poppy Stencil challenge

As it states in the rules,  stamps can be used, but only as accents, so that means small images and sentiments. Your stencil design MUST remain the focal point on your project.

I've used a stamp as an accent on my inspiration piece, but the stencil design is still the main part of the card

I used the Teardrop Background with various shades of blue Distress Inks .......

I added a few splatters of ink onto the background and some dots of Nuvo Crystal Drops here and there

I also highlighted around the edges of the teardrops using a Stardust Gel pen

I added in the sentiment and attached the frog using a piece of folded acetate so that he moves

Fancy having £40 to spend on the Sweet Poppy website? ...... well get those stencils out and create something fabulous!

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

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

                               

Products used:

Stencils: Teardrop Background (Sweet Poppy)

Inks: Distress Inks - Broken China, Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Stamps: Toadily Happy (Penny Black); Sentiment from my stash

Other: Clear Stardust Gel Pen; Nuvo Crystal Drops (Tonic)

Getting a little festive with Sweet Poppy Stencils ......

Good morning ...... it's the weekend!

It's not looking too bad this morning ....... the sun is back, a bit breezy though! 

Have you got anything nice planned?  We're hoping for a quiet one I think.

I'm here with a few more samples using the Sweet Poppy Stencils from the shows coming up next week on Hochanda.

Lucy's back on TV with a whole load of Sweet Poppy goodies.  Pastes, glitters and of course amazing stencils ...... some back in stocks, some favourite designs and some BRAND NEW ones.  Designs suitable for all occasions including Christmas, which is fast approaching.  I think I read somewhere yesterday that there's only 14 more Fridays until the big day ..... now that's scary!

If you were here yesterday you'll have already met the gorgeous Isla ....... the brand new Highland Cooo stencil, designed by the Sweet Poppy in-house designer Emma Cronin (she's so clever!)

It's a fab stencil, great size and perfect for so many occasions ...... even those cards for men!!

I shared some everyday ideas with you yesterday but, how about dressing her up for the festive season 

Just look at that face ...........

Add in a few pretty snowflakes and a touch of glitter ...... 

And finish with a festive sentiment ......

I also added a few ink splatters onto the background.  

And if snowflakes are not your thing, then add baubles instead, she would look amazing ..... and so festive!

Her she is again getting in a tangle with the Christmas lights ...... we've all been there!

Distress inks work so well with this stencil ..... I love the new Crackling Campfire

The sentiment is from one of the Sweet Poppy stamp sets ......

And the cute sprig of holly is a Sweet Poppy Die ......

Once the inks were dry, I drew in the Christmas lights using a gold gel pen, and coloured the bulbs with sparkle pens ....... I just love her!

Here's a quick look at a few more festive ideas using stencils from the shows .....

The beautiful Large Bauble is back in stock along with the matching dies.  Use the stencil and dies together as I have above or, use the dies on their own to create smaller baubles 

The pretty Holly Back Plate is also on the show, great for decorating smaller pieces (I used it to decorate the baubles above) but also perfect for quick and easy cards

And of course a Christmas wouldn't be the same without a gorgeous Poinsettia 

Again with matching dies ....... perfect for all your cardmaking, but why not use it to create your own gift wrap and tags .....

I hope I've given you a few ideas.  Tune in to the shows on Tuesday to see a whole load more from the rest of the Design Team, and of course amazing demos Lucy along with lots of tips and techniques.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the weekend.

Cheerio until next time .......

Products used:

Stencils: Isla,  Large Bauble, Holly Back Plate; Poinsettia

Inks: Various colours of Distress Inks, Delicata Golden Glitz & Silvery Shimmer, Versafine Clair -Nocturne

Stamps: Noel, Joy & Peace A6 stamp sets (Sweet Poppy)

Dies:  Holly Trio Die, Nesting Bauble Dies, Poinsettia Outline Die

Other: Gold Gel Pen, Sparkle Gel Pens (Sakura), Quickie Glue Pen; Crystalina Glitter (Sweet Poppy); Glitter card; Clear gemstones, Stardust Gel Pen, Chunky White Embossing Enamel, Glitter Glue

A date for your diary ........

Good morning ...... Happy Friday!

I'm so looking forward to the weekend ....... nothing to do, nowhere to go so, if the weather's good we might just take the van out for a drive, find somewhere nice to park him up and just chill!  We had him washed yesterday so he's all ready to go!

I've been busy this week getting some samples done for the TV.   Lucy and Sweet Poppy Stencils are back on Hochanda next week ....... Tuesday 15th August at 3pm and again at 7pm with some brand new stencil designs (you're going to love them) along with some old favourites and some designs that have not been shown on TV before.
Those eagle-eyed may have already seen the new designs on the website I think they went live earlier in the week.

Here's a quick look at some of the ones that I put in the post yesterday .......
First up the gorgeous ....... Cat Love, how cute are these two!

I've used the stencil on two different card sizes ...... the first one is A5 and the second one is 5x7 inches. 
The stencil is a great size, all it needs is a sentiment.
For both cards I simply inked through the design using black ink .....

And then used Distress inks to colour the backgrounds .....

Adding water and a few ink splatters here and there ......

And finishing off with sentiments .......

Next we have the Owl ...... again a great stencil that can fill the whole card

He he is on a left over background from the last Sweet Poppy TV shows

After inking through the leaf background stencil I noticed that there was quite a bit of ink left on it.  Now you know I don't like to waste inks and paints so, I simply spritzed the stencil with water, laid a piece of white cardstock on top and this was the result ....... not bad! Perfect backdrop for the owl.

A touch of the brand new Distress colour ....... Crackling Campfire around the edges and a few highlights with a Stardust Gel pen ......

Here's another simple design, this time on a tall slim card or DL size ......

Now for one of the brand new designs,  meet Isla .... the Highland Cooo

She is beautiful!  She's been designed by the very talented, Sweet Poppy in house designer Emma Cronin and I just love her. 
Just think of all the possibilities ...... are you a fan of Jennifer Hogwood's McMoos or, maybe you love the McCoos by Steven Brown, well ..... now you can create your own.  Just wait till you see what the rest of the Design Team have done with her ....... we all fell in love I think. 

Well, that's just a few of my samples.  I'll be back tomorrow with a few more and a little bit of a festive feel ........ even Isla's in the Christmas spirit!!

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

Cheerio until next time .......

Products used:
Stencils: Cat Love, Owl. Isla, Black Daisy (flower on Isla), Fall Backplate (background on the owl) (all stencils by Sweet Poppy)
Inks: Distress Inks - various colours; Versafine Clair - Nocturne, Delicata - Golden Glizt & Silvery Shimmer
Stamps: Friends, Family, Life is a Journey A6 stamp sets (Sweet Poppy); some small sentiments from my stash
Other: Gold embossing powder (WOW!); Stardust Gel Pen;

CAS Christmas Card challenge .......

Happy Wednesday ......

I hope you're having a good week.  It seems ages since I was here, there's been quite a bit going on what with family get togethers, and a couple of nights out.  A crafty meet up with the girls which was fun, a trip to the dentist (oh joy!) and of course the schools on the island have all gone back today ..... yeah!!! so we won't be seeing as much of the little man. 
We've also booked a family Staycation seeing as we haven't had our usual family holiday this year.  We're leaving the motorhome at home and we're spending a week with everyone, in a cottage overlooking the sea, somewhere near Kirk Michael ..... I think.  Fingers crossed the weather is kind ..... it's lovely today but, we don't go for 10 days so anything can happen before then!

I've been spending my week in the craft room, busy working with some new stencils, which can only mean one thing ....... yes, Lucy is back on the TV next week with some brand new Sweet Poppy Stencil designs.  I'll fill you in with all the details and show times later in the week. 
For those of you that can't wait though, check out the New Products section on the Sweet Poppy website for a sneak peek at the new designs.

I've been trying to get into the festive mood recently ...... it had to happen at some point ..... so I thought I would play along with this month's CAS Christmas Card Challenge where they want us to use a Christmas Tree ........ I do like a nice tree!

I also like large sentiment stamps so this one is perfect!

Heat embossed in gold on a piece of green cardstock ......

I then inked around the edges using shades of green Distress Inks  ........ such a simple thing to do but I love the effect you get, it sort of gives the tree a glow

I added a few splatters of gold ink to the background, and made a tub for the tree to sit in from a piece of kraft cardstock coloured with Distress Inks

A few red gems here and there add a touch of sparkle to finish off

I think it's something like 107 days until Christmas ....... eeeek!  It won't be that long before I'm decorating our actual Christmas tree ..... Ho! Ho! Ho!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.
We're off out this evening, it's the first of the new Wine Down Wednesday Wine Tastings ..... try saying that at the end of the evening!!
It's all about Bordeaux this month ...... one of our favourite regions, so we're looking forward to it.  We've also got a table booked for dinner afterwards so it could be a late one!

Cheerio until next time ......

Products used:
Stamps: We Wish You a Merry Christmas (My Favourite Things)
Inks: Versamark ink; Distress Inks - Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Gathered Twigs, Ground Espresso (for the tub), Delicata Golden Glitz (for the ink splatters)
Others: Gold Detail Embossing Powder (WOW!); Red Self Adhesive Gems from my stash