Happy Birthday and a tag swap

Hello there! How are you? I'm good! My little Lucy has her first mouth ulcer so she's not so happy but its not stopping her from doing all she wants so thats good. I'm off to the hospital with mum and dad today - we're getting the results of his MRI scan - fingers crossed the dementia isn't too developed yet. My dad keeps joking that they'll finally discover he has no brain ..... bless him!

I want to say a very Happy Birthday to mags - I sent her a card earlier in the week - I'm hoping she has got it - here it is:

The papers are from LOTV, the banner die is from La la land crafts, the flowers and lacy edger are from crafty cutter dies by Crafty Sentiments. The image is from Crafters companion and was coloured in using spectrum noir pens. Hope you liked it Mags and that you have a very happy Birthday.

I'd like to enter this for the following challenges:

As you like it asyoulikeitchallenge- fave 3D textures - flowers of all kinds - especially handmade ones as I think they are very special.

Penny'spennyschallenges: Girl/guy or both

Allsortsallsortschallenge: Ladies day

I'd also like to show you a tag I made for a tag swap on that Craft Place Natter group on Facebook.

I had lots of inky fun making this one - I've not heard from the lady I swapped with so I'm hoping this one reached her!

Big Crafty Hugs to you - March tomorrow all - how did that happen?

Hugs

Rachel xx

Tims tag february

Hi there! How are you? I'm happy because my run was a dry one yesterday - not too bad at all! And Rainbows was fun last night too - we were making carnival masks - they looked fab!

I have left this tag for as long as I dare - I was awaiting a parcel of new goodies from America - but now the goodies still haven't arrived and I daren't leave the tag any longer - or it won't get done! This is my version of tims february tag which is here



the details of the techniques used can be found here - I used the same techniques but had to adapt my products accordingly - I had ordered the Tim stamps and the twine and the stencil oh and the distress glitter- but they will all come in handy in the future!

I used the stains to first create the background - I used antique linen, spiced marmalade and wild honey - then I used the rays stencil with distress inks - worn lipstick, fired brick and barn door. I followed the chalkboard technique but couldn't use the stamp from Tim so I used a Crafty Individuals one I had. The heart and arrow were cut using a sizzix TH die. I versamarked the heart and added red glitter wow powders and heat set - I had ordered the distress glitter but again it didn't arrive!!! To make the bottom of the tag I used a crafty cutter die from Crafty sentiments and some metal foil tape from \Tim.

I'd like to enter this into the timholtz 12-tags-of-2014-february plus the sunday stamperpinkleart hearts challenge.

Big Hugs to you and thanks for dropping by!

Hugs

Rachel xx

Its a boy thing at Creative Inspirations

Good morning lovelies - how are you?  I'm good although I'm not looking forward to a soggy run this morning - as long as the wind drops a bit it shouldn't be too bad.

This week's challenge  at Creative Inspirations is It's A Boy Thing!
We want to see all things masculine this week!

This week's prize is from another brand new sponsor  for 2014 which is CRAFTS U LOVE and they are offering a £10 VOUCHER to the lucky winner!

I decided it was time for more steampunk birds and this time I chose the duck stamp from Chocolate Baroque.

I created the background using the gelli plate and a stencil from Imagination Crafts. I mounted this onto a card and added some blu paper ontop for the water - I used a white pen to add some peaks in the water then added my stamped, coloured and fussycut bird on top. The whole thing was then mounted onto some mat silver card that I had run through an embossalicious embossing folder using my grand calibur.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

FSCfashionablestampingchallenges: Anything goes

Pan pastelpanpasteluk: Use a stencil

Thats all for today - thanks for dropping by and for any comments you leave! Big Crafty Hugs! Rachel x

Butterfly canvas

Hello lovelies! How are you this morning? I hope you are well and good. Had a good day yesterday - found out I won three of the new paper pads from LOTV so I feel very lucky!!! Wooo hoo! Love those papers! I also had a fab aerobics class too. I wonder what today will bring!!! I'm popping over to see my mum and dad this morning - they didn't have such a good day - they were wakened at 5.30am with water dripping onto their bed. What a nightmare - a pipe in the attic that feeds the boiler was leaking. Luckily its fixed now but it must have been awful for them. Sending you early hugs mum xx

Today I have a butterfly canvas to share with you - I did have fun making this one although it kind of developed as it went along - over a few days!

I started off with a blank A4 canvas and started by doing some diecutting. I added some memory box flowers and grasses along the bottom and a marianne butterfly in the middle. Then I used whites stencil paste and an imagination crafts stencil to add some butterflies in the top area of the canvas. I then coated everything in gesso and once dry got my distress paints out.

I used mowed lawn at the bottom of the canvas and broken china at the top of the canvas and smooshed this about and left it to dry. Next I applied some sprays - cosmic shimmer mist sprays in purple and gold and also some london blue dylusions. I mopped up some of the spray with some kitchen roll.

Next I added some cosmic shimmer golder pearl texture paste through another imagination crafts stencil (hexagons) and left to dry. Finally I did some script stamping (its my fave stamp again from Crafty Individuals) and then stamped the scrolls. I stamped the butterflies onto paper and coloured them with distress inks and stains. The butterfly stamps are from Sheena Douglass.. Then I fussy cut them and added them and the sentiment to the canvas.

I'd like to enter this canvas into the following challenges:

CVCcountryviewchallenges: Painty pleasures

Stamping Sensationssirstampalotchallenge: wings, fantasy or fiction

Simon says stamp:simonsaysstampblog Use texture paste/stencils

Pan pastels panpasteluk- using stencils to make an embellishment

Fashionable stamping challengefashionablestampingchallenges: Anything goes

Totally papercraftstotallypapercrafts: Spring

Thanks for dropping in today - I hope to see you again soon!

Big Hugs

Rachel xx

Monotone at Little Claire

Hello lovelies! How are you this fine morning? Why so chirpy I hear you cry? Back to routine - that makes me at least know where I am!!!!

Today I've got my entry for the Little Claire Monotone challenge to share with you. I couldn't resist three of there recently released silhouette images - and I've used them all here.

They've all been made very similarly - stamped with versamark and heat set with black opaque wow powders then the background created using distress inks - with a moon masked off.

This one has been distressed directly onto the card too.

On this one I created a background using papers and added some flowers.

This one has backgrounds using papers and a rough bow made from garden twine.

I'd like to enter these cards into the littleclairesdesignsLittle Claire's monotone challenge.

Thanks for your kind comments yesterday - Penny's party went really well - and my glass of wine was just wonderful. Have a great Monday! Big Hugs Rachel xx

More repeat stamping and a wine glass

Hello there! How are you this morning? I hope you are well and happy! I've got a busy day today - its thinking day celebrations part 1 today so I have to be down at church with the rainbows. Then its Penny's party at tea time - let's just say I'll be happy when its done - I'll be having a glass of wine tonight for sure!

We had a great Saturday - we all went swimming - I managed to do 26 lengths this time - every little helps. Then we spent the afternoon in Kendal Museum. It was lovely - really enjoyed that.

Today I've got two things to show you - first up is a card made using the Mackintosh Beauties from Chocolate Baroque.

The background was made using one of the smaller stamps from the set - I did repeat stamping in versa mark all over the back and heat set with clear embossing powder. Then I used worn lipstick, bundled sage, milled lavender distress inks to ink over the stamped images. I added some victorian corners from Creative expressions. 

I stamped the lady in versa and heatset with black opaque wow powders. I used spectrum noirs to colour her in the fussy cut and mounted on to a piece of card cut with a die. Then I added the lace around the outside - this came from Crafty Individuals. Then I added the TH adage ticket.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Craft Stampercraftstamper - Repeat Stamping

Allsorts Challenge Blogallsortschallenge - Ladies Day

simon says stampsimonsaysstampblog: wedding/anniversary

The second piece I wanted to show you is a glass I have stamped with versamark and heat set with red glitter wow powders.

Very simple to do but very hard to photograph.

I'd like to enter this into the Wow Powders wowembossingpowderChallenge this month which is Glass.

Thats all for today - please forgive me if I'm late reaching out to you tomorrow - I'll get there eventually!

Big Hugs and Happy Crafting!

Rachel xx

A fine romance

Hello lovelies - thanks so much for your visits and comments on yesterdays post - I'm very grateful for your comments and love reading them. Hope you're well - and happy. We had a good day yesterday - took the girls to the cinema to see the latest Tinkerbell film - they loved it!!!

Todays piece is inspired by the first piece |I made at the Hels Sheridan workshop I went on recently - I used largely the same techniques but I started with crafty Individuals papers and used their stamps too.

The papers in the background were blocked then covered in acrylic paint then sealed with glue and sea/ before stamping and adding some texture paste using TH stencils. I added some repeat stamping using a small CI heart along the bottom.

once the background was done I made up the flowers and sprayed them and stamped and fussy cut the rabbits.

I also cut the scrolls and leaves using sizzix dies and added treasure gold to the owl and hearts then I assembled the piece.

Hope you like it!

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Crafty Individualscraftyindividualsblog: A fine Romance

Craft Stamper:craftstamper Repeat stamping

Sunday stamperpinkleart - birds - there's a little owl on there.

Hope you have a great Saturday! Hugs Rachel xx

A beauty

Good morning lovelies! Thanks so much for all your kind words yesterday - both about the card and for Penny's birthday! She had a wonderful time! A big grown up 6 year old retired to bed after a hectic day playing and watching scooby doo and the latest Barbie movie!

Today I have my card I made for the laviniastamps Challenge this month - the theme is blue, lilac  or both.

I took some lilac centura pearl card and repeatedly stamped around the edge with versamark using a Lavinia stamp before heat setting with metallic lilac wow powders. On a separate piece of card I stamped the Lavinia lady stamp then used spectrum noirs to colour the skin and flowers - I cut the image using spellbinders dies then used shaded lilac distress ink around the edges. 

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Lavinialaviniastamps - february challenge

Stamping sensations sirstampalotchallenge- february challenge

Craft stamper craftstamper - take-it-make-it-challenge- repeat stamping

Divasdivasbydesignchallenge rubber-stamps-only: Rubber stamps only

Lexis:lexiscreations Monochromatic

Thanks for dropping by today and for any comments you may leave - I really do appreciate each and every one! Big Hugs to you! Here's a birthday picture of Penny before I go 

Rachel xx

Penny's birthday

Its my youngest princess's 6th birthday today so if I'm a bit quiet until later I apologise - lots to do!!!! Its not officially her birthday until 11.35pm - but we always celebrate it on this day! She is a cheeky bundle of fun and we love her so very much.

Here's the card I made for her:

There are two LOTV stamps on there and some LOTV papers too - I cut the stepper shape using my hougie board - the flowers have been threaded together and had their wires curled. The cake image is cut using a spellbinders die and the other die is from La la land Crafts. Penny just loves cake - hence the choice of image!The image was coloured using promarkers.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

LOTV: ideastoinspire: name that tune: someone left the cake out in the rain or Rhianna's birthday cake.
TPSthepapershelter: Punches and dies
PTWpapertakeweekly: Lovely layers
PFPpromarkerchallenge: Shaped cards
Tuesday Throwdowntuesdaythrowdown: Winged Fairytales
Jelly parkjellyparkchallenges: Chocolate and/or cake
winter wonderlandchristmasblogchallenge: Fairies
Stamping sensationssirstampalotchallenge: wings, fantasy or fiction.
pennyschallenges: lots of layers

Hope you have a great day!

Hugs

Rachel xx

New release from Crafty Sentiments:

Hiya there - today I have a new release to show you from Crafty Sentiments - they're being featured over on the inspiration blog for the next three days and will be in the stores on the 22nd. The one I'm using is called meeting  friends..... and I have altered a mirror for my little girls using it - the mirror was from Ikea - and was gifted to me by a lovely blog buddy Rae  (the girls had one each too - will add a picture when they have finished them).

I've done a step by step for you today too - hope you enjoy it! This is the finished product so you can see where we're heading!

And this is a close -up of the image - she's a sweetie pie!

Here's what I did to alter the frame:

First - although its not showing too well in the picture, I coated the frame with a thin layer of gesso - after blanking off the mirror. Then I added the purple acrylic paint - I've since started to use a sponge for these under coats - its so much faster and doesn't leave brush strokes. 

Whilst the paint was drying I stamped and coloured the image then fussy cut it.

The next step was to apply stamping to the frame ( my fave Crafty Individuals script stamp), some gold pearl texture paste through the TH bubble stencil and some dreamweaver black embossing paste through a butterfly stencil from Imagination Crafts.

Finally I sprayed some flowers and diecut the clockface and added added everything to the frame.

I'd like to enter this into  Brendas 5th-blogaversary-celebration candy challenge as I used my standby script stamp - I love this stamp!

Big hugs to you and thanks for visiting - hope you have a good day - we're busy today getting ready for Nana arriving tonight and shopping for Penny's birthday tea tomorrow and party on Sunday. Should be fun!

Big hugs and hope to see you again soon!

Rachel xx

Buttons at Creative Inspiration

Good morning lovelies - thanks so much for your lovely comments - I really do appreciate the time it takes you to visit and leave some love so thankyou!

Today at cinspirationsCreative Inspirations there's a new challenge - its all about buttons. All you have to do is include some buttons on your creations!

This week's prize is from ROBYN'S FETISH DESIGNS and is 3 DIGI IMAGES OF THE WINNER'S CHOICE!

There's also a design team call out at the moment so if you fancy joining us try here.

I've been playing with my gelli plate again - here's my card:

Such a cute doggy! he's a robyns fetish image.  He's been coloured with spectrum noirs and fussy cut before adding to my gelliplate background print. They're such fun but I'm not yet at the stage where i can predict or even plan what I'm going to do - everything is very experimental - playtime!!!!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

kaboodle doodleskaboodledoodles: Buttons and twine

Cutie piescutiepiechallenge: cute with spots and dots

Pan pastelpanpasteluk: AG

I've got another post at 9am - hope to see you then too! Big Hugs rachel xx

Anything goes at Crafty Sentiments

Good morning lovelies - did you have a good day yesterday? Me and my girls had fun at a jacobites workshop at the museum in Lancaster - we're off to learn about super saxons this morning - it really was good yesterday so fingers crossed we'll have as much fun again! Oh and we went in the attic in the afternoon on a big card making session - Penny is hoping to get lots of presents on Thursday when its her birthday or on Sunday when she'll be having her party - so we've been making thankyou cards - lots of fun but I felt a bit frazzled by the end of it!!!!

Today I'd like to share with you the new challenge at craftysentiments:



The prize is a fabulous £10 gift voucher to spend in the crafty sentiments store - oh and there's lots of goodies in there! It won't take you long to spend it! The theme of the challenge is eveybody's favourite - its anything goes. Here's what I made using a digi - its the lovely Harriet and the stamp is called Lady-Bird-Butterfly

The image has been coloured in promarkers and cut using a spellbinders die. The papers were from a kanban card kit - the flowers and buttons are from my stash and the sentiment I think is from Little Claire.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Cutie piecutiepiechallenge: Cute with spots and dots

kaboodle doodleskaboodledoodles: Buttons and twine

CYPCcraftyourpassionchallenges: Girly girl

Hope you have a great day and thanks for visiting- will be back twice tomorrow - hope to see you then! Big Hugs Rachelxx

Two cards

Hello there! How are you? I hope you are well and happy. We had a lovely day in the sunshine yesterday at Blackpool Zoo - we even went to the creepy crawlies talk and got to meet some scary creatures....


This was the giant land snail -

             
and then there was geoff the snake and a hissing cockroach!!! Great fun and we all enjoyed it!

Today is the first Monday of half term - we're off to do a workshop on rebellious Jacobites at the Museum today followed by crafting this afternoon. Looking forward to both of them!

I've got two cards to share with you today - the first is using a stamp from Penny Black and the second is the card I gave to Shaun on Friday.

A very simple card - I coloured the image with spectrum noirs and then cut using a spellbinders die - I threaded the flowers and curled the wires and cut the banner using a die from La la land crafts. The sentiment is from LOTV. 

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challengepennybfriendssaturdaychallenge: For Someone Special

The second card I want to share with you is the one I made for Shaun on Valentines day:

The image is from The Paper Shelter and I coloured it using promarkers. The papers are from the LOTV pad Always and Forever. The bow is from Creative Expressions.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Polkadoodlespolkadoodles: Love is in the air

PCJpaper-craftingjourney: Love is in the air
rhedd and rosieslove-is-in-air: love is in the air
TPSthepapershelter: Be my valentine
PTWpapertakeweekly: have a heart
Bunny Zoebunnyzoescrafts: Hearts/love

Thats all for today! Back tomorrow with more - hope to see you then and thanks for dropping by today!

Hugs

Rachel xx

Make a Box at That Craft Place

Good morning lovelies - how are you today? Thanks for dropping by yesterday and for the lovely comments you left.  Well we had a lovely day yesterday - we went off down to Rufford Old Hall in between Preston and Southport and played some tudor games and looked around the house. Its a National Trust Property and we have been before but we've spent most time in the garden. Yesterdays visit was more about the house and we had lots of fun. Not sure whats on the agenda today - there's talk of the zoo at Blackpool but also of bowling - so we'll wait and see what transpires.

Today at thatcraftplaceblog there's a new challenge starting - its all about making (or altering) a box. Here's what I did:

I started out with a plain MDF money box from the MDF man. I primed it with gesso then painted with pebeo acrylic paint. Then I used my fave crafty individuals script stamp and stamped on the box in sepia archival. Next I used two stencils from that craft place and added the images on the sides of the box. Finally I decorated the top using a stencil from Imagination Crafts and some flowers/fibbon and butterflies. This is bound for my daughter Penny who will be 6 on Thursday - I hope she likes it!!!

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

MAWTT:movingalongwiththetimes Fantasy

Thanks for dropping by today and I hope to see you again soon!

Big Hugs

Rachel xx