A card for Evie and opening night

Hello Lovelies! Thanks for your comments on my last post - I really do appreciate them! Tonight I have a new card to share with you - its for my niece Evie who's going to be 10 in December. I've used a stamp club set from Little Claire.

I made the topper first - I stamped the image then coloured with spectrum noir pens. Then I cut using a spellbinders die then used seedless preserves around the edge. Next I cut the card using a grand spellbinders die and coloured it using seedless preserves again. Then I added the stamped images using another distress ink and finally put the card together.

I'd like to enter this card into littleclairesdesigns monthly-blog-challenge-51-shaped-card. 

I had a good day with Shaun today - he's continuing to do well but is definitely starting to feel he's been there too long! Tell me about it! 

It was Lucy and Penny's opening night tonight for the BFG and everything went really well! I'm so proud of them - I'll try and get some piccies tomorrow night to post on Monday!

Big hugs to you and have a great weekend!

Rachel xx

Hold on to your hats - the rollercoaster is peaking and dipping!

Afternoon all. Well its been a bit of a rollercoaster day. It started with a call at around 4am from the hospital to say there was a heart for Shaun. Luckily my mum and dad were staying over so I was able to head off to the hospital and got there around 6.30am. Shaun and I sat for a few hours until the transplant coordinator came and told us that unfortunately the heart was not healthy enough - it was a bit of a blow but in many ways its reassuring to know that they will only use a good quality organ. Fingers crossed that next time the call comes it will be a viable heart for Shaun.

I should be sleeping now but its not happening so I thought I would blog this that I made for the mixed media challenge at WOW powders this month. I started off by trying to alter an assemblage clock using the deer and trees but everything was too dark - luckily I saw this post by Anna Karin on the timholtz blog. It was the inspiration I needed to finish my piece off.

I used a burlap panel and painted it using distress paints. Then I stamped snowflakes onto a piece of card using versa mark and heat set white pearl wow powder before then adding distress ink over the top -this was then added to the inside of the panel to form a snowy backdrop. I added pebeo matt medium to the bottom of the panel then sprinkled with glitter. The deer was create using a Tim Holtz die cut around 8 times in 300gsm card and then these pieces were all stuck together. I rubbed versamark over the surface then covered with white sparkle wow powder and heat set. The trees were sprayed with first green then silver distress stain sprays and allowed to dry before adding to the scene. Finally I added a tim holtz good times band.

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

wowembossingpowder november-2014-monthly-challenge

stamping sensations sirstampalotchallenge -november-challenge-simply-christmas

Hope to see you again before the end of the month but we will have to wait and see!

Big hugs and thanks for your comments!

Hugs

Rachel xx

A christening, a hospital visit and a colour challenge at chocolate baroque

Hello Lovelies! Well its been a great day today - we started with my two girls getting christened at the church in our village - it was a very small event but beautifully done by the Rev Michael Hampson - thankyou - here's a piccie:

We decided to let the girls get christened when they were old enough to choose for themselves - and they both wanted to at this time! This was followed by a trip to see daddy at the hospital and I have another piccie for you here:

As you can see Shaun is looking very well - the doctors are saying that he'll have his tracheostomy removed on Monday - which will be great! He was so very well today! Long may it continue.

I also have a card to share with you today - this was made using a chocolate baroque clear christmas stamp using the colours from their latest colour challenge:

Here's my make:

I used distress inks to do the colours - peacock feathers, dusty concorde, tattered rose and seedless preserves. I masked off the circle then created the background then filled the circle.

I would like to enter this into chocolatebaroquechallenge-five.

See you again soon and thanks for dropping by!

Hugs

Rachel xx

J.J's card

Hello Lovelies! How are you all? Thanks for your kind comments on my last make and good wishes for Shaun. The wait continues but he's doing really well. I just hope Shaun doesn't have to wait for too long!

It was my nephew's 13th birthday today - here's the card I made for him:

The stamps are from Sheena Douglass and I used aquatints to do the painting.

I hope you had a good Friday and enjoy your weekend!

Hugs

Rachel xx

The transplant List and my take on Tims Tag

Hello lovelies - well Shaun is officially back on the transplant list which is just the best news - he started to get a little low but now is very pleased again! As are we all! Well done Shaun - I hope its not too long before he has a new heart!

Today I would like to share with you my take on Tims tag this month. This is the first time I had to make a card instead of a tag - I decided I wanted to use the snowflake die and it wouldn't fit on a tag so I had to make a card - the techniques are all the same as described at timholtz 12-tags-of-2014-november.

I really enjoyed the making process and I'm pleased with the final result too! I loved using the distress stain sprays! 

I'd like to enter this into timholtz 12-tags-of-2014-november

Big hugs to you and I hope you have enjoyed your visit today!

Hugs

Rachel xx

Its Travel at Clarity

Hello Lovelies! How are you today? We are all good - I managed to get a swim in before I went off to see Shaun at the hospital - I did 30 lengths and felt very good after it! When I got to the hospital Shaun had already done a walk - the full length of the ward (roughly 25m) and he did it again whilst I was there! I was so choked - I never thought I would well up just watching my husband walk! But there you have it! He's getting stronger all the time! Hopefully tomorrow he will be well enough to go back on the transplant list. Got everything crossed.

I have made a very simple CAS card for my entry to the Clarity Challenge this month. I have used the stencil by Jo Rice plus clarity stamps.

I used distress inks through the stencil and applied them using cut and dry foam - the colours were chipped sapphire and faded jeans. The black stamping was done using black archival.

I would like to enter this into the claritystampchallenge-21 - travel

paulaholifieldcrafts - albc-cas-or-clean-and-simple.

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you have enjoyed your visit!

Hugs Rachel xx

Mid month at Imagination Crafts

Good morning lovelies! Thanks for your comments on yesterdays post - you're very kind! Shaun was good yesterday too - he's started doing little walks now too - its brilliant!

Well its midmonth already and I'm here to give you a little inspiration to join in the fun over at the imagination-craftschallenges blog. The theme this month is, as always, anything goes. There is a £40 voucher up for grabs but to be in with a chance of winning it you need to use Imagination Crafts products in your make.  Here's my inspiration for you today:

I have altered a stampboard box using silkies and stamps from Imagination Crafts. The stamps I used are all from the dragon fly stamp set. The silkies I used are Purple lace and pink lace. I hope you like this box - it was so easy to make and looks really pretty in real life! Whilst I'm here I would like to thank all at the Imagination Crafts Challenge blog for the past two terms on the team and I'm looking forward to the next term too starting in December. Its such a lovely team to be on - so thankyou! 

Big Hugs to you!

Rachel x

ATB's for Indigo Blu

Good morning lovelies! How are you today? I'm waiting for my lift to arrive to take me to the hospital - I've been managing to get a lift once a week from Shaun's work colleagues. They are so very good. I don't think there are many groups of people who would get their heads together and organise this - so thankyou so much those involved - it really is appreciated! Shaun is doing very well still. He had a bronchoscopy  again yesterday and his lungs are looking fine. He's also doing more time on the trachymask and generally doing more physio too - here's hoping this lasts and he continues to get stronger every day.

Today I have my first set of ATB's (artists trading blocks) cut using my own die. I finally invested in it and I think you'll be seeing a few of these now - they're cool! The die is by Eileen Hull from Sizzix and comprises all three boxes. There ai also a bigger box but I haven't got that one as yet. I used distress stains to colour up a piece of A3 card then used the die to cut out all the pieces and assembled the boxes. Then I did the stamping and used masking as a feature - thats because this months Indigo blu challenge is all about masking.

I stamped the images onto colour stained card then masked and overstamped with the bubble or the ripple stamp. Then some of the images I coloured slightly but it hasn't come through too well!

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

indigoblublogchallenge-21-magical-masking

eileenhull - art-with-heart-challenge-november-favorite-recipes

I have used my favourite recipe of distress stains to make this - mowed lawn, salty ocean and peacock feathers!

Big hugs to you all and I hope you have a great day!

Rachel xx

Sparkle and snow at Lavinia

Hello Lovelies! Well its been another good day at the hospital. Shaun has stood five times today and even lifted his feet in a sort of shuffle. His NG tube is out as he is eating all of his meals. He's progressing very well but he still isn't good enough for his place back on the transplant list. Still - the stronger he is the more likely the transplant is to be successful - we have to think long term here so I guess I know it makes sense!

Today I have the card to share with you that I made for this months Lavinia Challenge - I treated myself to three new Lavinia stamps and have used them all on this scenic card.

I also used distress inks and the landscape mask from clarity plus some glitter and a quickie glue pen.

I also used a star stamp from Lavinia.

I would like to enter the laviniastamps-challenge-snow-and-sparkle. I think there may be a few of these going out at Christmas - as long as I get the chance!

Hugs to you all and thanks for your continued support!

Rachel xx

a sneaky peek at Imagination Crafts

Hello all! Just a sneaky peek from me today!

You can find out more at imagination-crafts blog.

See you soon!

Hugs Rachel xx

Its A Okay for Lungs!

Hello lovelies! Another post from me today - wow - I can hardly believe I used to manage to blog every day! Seems like a lifetime ago now! Anyway we had good news with Shaun's lungs yesterday. Although there was one tiny clot they seem to think that Shaun's lungs are good to go as far as transplant is concerned so we're hoping for more good news on Tuesday.

Thanks for your comments yesterday - I think my friends kids both enjoyed their cards so thats good. Onto today - its week 2 (already?) of the challenge at Craft a scene which is trees. Here's my card.

The stamps are from sheena - the background is done using distress inks!

Thats all for today! Off to check out some blogs!

Hugs

Rachel x

Pipes, CT and a party

Hello Lovelies! How are you? Well I hope. We are good and have had a good couple of days. Yesterday Shaun finally had his tubes changed - apparently the procedure only took 44 seconds. Shaun was very impressed! We managed to see Shaun for a very short time and then he went off for another CT scan - I believe they're looking at the condition of Shaun's lungs so they know exactly where they are before he goes back on the transplant list. We'll know more about the results tomorrow and the transplant list on Tuesday. Fingers crossed for good news.

Yesterday I had to pick the girls up from a party - I only remembered Thursday night I had to make a card - and I also remembered it was another friends birthday on Saturday too - so off I trotted to the attic and made these two cards:

This is the boy who had the party - he used to come to gardening club when I was involved and I thought this was the perfect image for him!

This one is for a girl who is very sporty and outdoorsy from Lucy's class. I hope she likes it!

Thats all for today - I hope all is well with you and I thankyou for any comments you leave! 

Big Hugs rachel xx

Colour challenge at Chocolate Baroque

Hello Lovelies! Well another good day at the hospital - Shaun has managed to keep all his meals down yesterday - and the infection indicators are very low. The kidneys are starting to show signs of recovery but Shaun is still dependent on the filter. Each time they take him off the filter his lungs start to fill up. But we'll get there. He's getting his pipes changed today so fingers crossed that all goes well.

I chose this stamp from Chocolate Baroque using the voucher I won last month - I love these big bold background stamps and enjoyed making this card up using the colour scheme from the current colour challenge. I started by creating 4 colour sheets by applying distress inks (milled lavendar, wild honey, aged mahoganey and worn lipstick) direct to paper then stamping the image on each sheet - I chose the aged mahoganey as the background then paper pieced the baubles.

Finally I applied glitter and layered the piece up onto card.

I'd like to enter this into the chocolatebaroquechallenge-four. The colour scheme is as follows:

Last night me and Bez (thats Shaun's mum - she has been staying with me since Shaun has been in hospital) took the girls to the village bonfire and then afterwards they had gigantic sparklers in the back garden.

Thanks for visiting today and for your continued comments and support!

Big Hugs

Rachel x

coloured crackle at CC3

Hello Lovelies! I had a good day yesterday at the hospital - Shaun's breathing is doing really well - he's managing on a lower level on the vent and has his cuff down on his tracheostomy all the time - he even tried a tracy mask a couple of times for short times and did very well. Onwards Shaun! His kidneys still aren't working by themselves yet though and he's experiencing a lot of nausea - but despite this I feel things are going in the right direction.

I had a great time in the attic on Sunday night and I managed to make my entry for the current challenge for the Compendium-of-curiosities-3-challenge-14 - coloured crackle. I followed the technique outlined on page 53 of the book - I won't go into that here but everything else I will! There are two prizes for the challenge - the first is a selection of goodies from Tim and Mario and the second is a $25 voucher for the thefunkiejunkie boutique.

Here's what I made - I'm rather pleased!

The background was made using distress stains and ink. I also used layering stencils from Tim Holtz. The iceskate die is a bigz die from TH (Sizzix) - Its a fabulous die - you'll be seeing a lot more of this I think. The sprig is also a TH die - its a thinlets die though and comes in a set of four dies. The ornate frame at the top is a piece of TH ideology. 

I would like to enter this into compendium-of-curiosities-3-challenge-14.

Hope you all have a good Tuesday! Thanks for dropping by!

Hugs

Rachel xx

craft a scene and christmas card club

Hello Lovelies - how are you today? I am good and very happy to report that Shaun's doing really well - his breathing is much further on now than before he got his infection. We still don't know about the kidneys though so I'm crossing everything in the hope that they'll be okay. Thanks for your comments on my post yesterday. I have combined two posts today so I have got two cards to share with you. The first is for Craft a scene where the theme of the challenge this month is trees.

I have used stamps from Sheena Douglass and Clarity and a clarity mask to make this one. I built up the background using the mask and distress inks then stamped the images.

This fortnight our challenge at Christmas card club is snowmen - I just had to use the October stamps from the Little Claire stamp club. 

I love these stamps - they really make me smile - I used the snowflake one to make up the background then distress inks. Finally I stamped the three snowmen image and coloured it with spectrum noir pens. I'd like to enter this into the littleclairesdesigns-challenge-50-christmas. 

Hope you have a great day!

Hugs

Rachel xx

Imagination Crafts: Anything Goes

Hello Lovelies! Well its November already! How did that happen? As its the first I have my post for Imagination Crafts. The theme this month is anything goes. I decided I really needed to get on with my Christmas cards and so went with that theme.

To make my card I used the following items from imagination crafts:

holly scroll stencil

snowflakes stencil

donkey decoupage stamp

snowy cottage decoupage stamp

lapis blue sparkle medium

silver sparkle medium

To make my card I first used the stencils to 'cover' A4 card with the sparkle medium and once dry I cut the panels out using the karen burniston accordion album die. Then I stamped the images, coloured and cut them out. Then I assembled the whole card.

Here's a picture of my girlies after they had been out trick or treating last night:

They really enjoyed it! They had a great day at Hornby day nursery too doing lots of fun games and crafts. Thanks to the staff for giving them such a great fun day!!!

I hope you can join us for our challenge this month!

Thanks to all you lovely people who left comments on my last post too. Shaun is still doing well - the infection seems to be under control and he is in a very good mood. He's recovered very well and I'm hoping will find his kidneys are working again soon - then maybe he'll be able to resume his place on the transplant list again.  Fingers crossed!

Have a great Saturday!

Big hugs

Rachel xx