Jane's card

Hello there! How are you doing? Things here are good. I managed my first teaching day yesterday and although things could have been better, they could have been much worse too! Oh yes and on Sunday I passed my first 1/2 stone lost milestone with Slimming World. Much more to go but its a start!

I have a birthday card to share with you today for my sister in law, Jane. I do hope she likes it.

I created the background first using distress inks then added the stamping before doing some colouring to compliment the background.

I have coffeepot to do this morning - we're working with more Lavinia stamps so there'll be more see very soon!

Have a great day!

Big hugs

Rachel xx

magical ATC swap

Good morning lovelies! I do hope you are okay and ready for a new and productive day - I am nursing a sore foot at present - I managed to stand on a nail yesterday and get it embedded in my foot - ouch! I have (I hope) done all the necessary things but will keep an eye on things! On a brighter note my dad came back from hospital yesterday - I hope he's going to continue to be okay! At least being in hospital gave my mum a bit of a break although I daresay not enough.

Today I would like to share with you my makes for last months ATC swap - I have received mine back but sadly I haven't had chance to photograph them - anyway - here's the ones I made:

The theme was 'magical' - I decided to do a natural themed make using this beautiful hare stamp - that in itself is magical to me!!! I love hares!!!! I do hope the ladies in the swap enjoy these!

Back tomorrow with my makes from the second day at the Birgit koopsen bernstein workshop!

Big hugs

Rachel x

Magical news

Hello Lovelies! How are you? Did you manage to enjoy that lovely weather again yesterday? I enjoyed it - it was lovely to spend a couple of hours outside - and I managed a run in the morning too. All good stuff.

Today I want to share a card I made for a couple in the village - one of their daughters just gave birth to twins so I wanted to congratulate them!

I know its not a regular baby congrats card but I didn't want to make it anything other than magical - as that's what the news is.

I created the scene using distress inks and then black archival and lavinia stamps.

The diecut word is from tattered lace. I have entered this into Lavinia facebook challenge. They have changed things - I now have to get lots of likes to get be judged! If you don't mind liking on facebook I would appreciate it!

Big hugs to you and have a great Tuesday!

Rachel x

Christmas at Lavinia!

Hello Lovelies! How are you? I hope you're okay. I'm very good and happy - I have a fabulous day at Clarity Cumbria to look forward to - and last night I won a beautiful cake in the raffle at a school fundraiser. Lucky girl!!!

Today I have a very quick make to share with you - I almost missed the lavinia challenge - anyway I found one of their scenescapes and did some stamping on it.

Super quick card but I think it works well!

I'd like to enter this into the laviniastamps challenge-11.

Have a great Saturday!

Hugs

Rachel x

Lavinia blog challenge entry: glitter and gems!

hello lovelies - I hope you are well!!! This is a scheduled post so I hope its going to go live!!

Today I have my card entry for the lavinia challenge to share with you - this month the challenge is glitter and gems and I've made a simple card:

I started by stamping the Believe stamp in versa mark and setting with clear crystal embossing powder. Next I stamped the fairies and stars in black archival. Then i masked the moon and did the background in DI - picked raspberry, peacock feathers and shaded lilac. Finally I added the glitter and the gems!!!

I would like to enter this card into the laviniastamps challenge-10.

Thankyou for looking today and i hope you have enjoyed your visit!

hugs

rachel x

mini canvas for Lavinia

Hello Lovelies! This is a scheduled post so i hope things work out okay! I've made a mini canvas for this moths Lavinia Stamps challenge - where the theme is anything but a card.  I decided a canvas was a good idea in the case.

I started off using texture paste through a crafters workshop A4 sized stencil - then once dry I base coated the whole canvas with cinderella metallic pink paint from Indigo Blu. 

Next I used emerald city metallic green paint from indigo blu on the leaves and a blue paint on the dragonflies. I also added some sprays and let the whole thin dry.

Next came stamping using lavinia stamps and both inks and paints.I also added some inka gold wax. Finally i added the stamped image at the bottom that I stamped in card and fussy cut before adding.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

laviniastamps: anything but a card

anythingbutcutechallenge-august-making-magic.

Thanks for looking today!

Hugs

rachel x

Add a flower at Lavinia plus new releases at Indigo Blu

Hello Lovelies! How are you today? I hope you are doing well and are happy. We are all well and good!!! Thanks for your comments on yesterdays post! You are very kind. Tonight I would like to share a quick make I have made for entering into the Lavinia Challenge which this time is 'add a flower'.

I have used the poppy seed head stamp embossed in white  and then used a stencil and added distress inks over the top. Finally I added the Lavinia fairies, the fairy dust words and some extra dust spots! Very quick and clean and simple. 

I would like to enter this into laviniastamps challenge 7. 

There was great excitement over at Indigo Blu earlier with the release of the new Christmas stamps - you can see them here.... they look fabulous - I know what I'll be ordering!!!

Hope you have a great evening! 

Hugs

Rachel xx

lavinia challenge make and a wonderful sports day!

Hello Lovelies - how are you today? I hope you're doing well and have had fun in the sun today. Its been amazing here - such a lovely day. Before I tell you all about sports day I want to share my make with you for the challenge over at lavinia - can't believe I nearly forgot to do this one this month.

The challenge is all about colour - so I got my lovely brushos out again for a play - I know - can't help it - I'm hooked!

All stamps used are from Lavinia.

I introduced a little bit of promarker in the tips of the flower petals. The stamps were initally stamped on water colour card with versa mark and heat set wow embossing powders.

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

laviniastamps-challenge-6

wowembossingpowder june-challenge-summer

theartisticstampercreativeteam junes-creative-challenge-summer-is-on its way

Now its been a wonderful summer sports day for my girls today - here's some pics:

They both did really well - Penny got first in the sack race and 2nd in the skipping race. Lucy got third in both sack race and egg and spoon! And their house priory won too! Woohoo! Well done.

Well thats all for now - the plumber is coming tomorrow hopefully to fix a leak in the bathroom - then I'm looking forward to another swimming lesson. Hope you have a good day!

Big hugs

Rachel x

Pink and blue at Lavinia

Hello there one and all! I hope you are okay? I've had a good day so far but my back is threatening to cause a wobbler at present - it was awful yesterday - but I swam today and it seems much less painful - so maybe I'll swim again tomorrow instead of running - unless i wake up in the morning completely pain free that is!!!

Today I have a card to show you again influenced by the online class I am doing hosted by Marije Kemper - its wonderful and I will hopefully get to do another session tonight before i go for my upstairs crafting session which tonight will involve another card and the start of my next journal page. Anyway here's the card:

I built up the background in dsitress using picked raspberry, spun sugar, salty ocean and faded jeans. Then I applied layering stencils from Tim Holtz over the top and also stamped using lavinia stamps in the same colours. Finally I added the stamping in black  - all lavinia stamps and created the hill for the hares to box on!

I think it works well - very pleased with this one!

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

laviniastamps-challenge-5 - pink or blue or both

I hope you enjoy the rest of your Thursday - I'm off shortly to collect the girls and take them dancing - then onto Brownies!!! Big Hugs Rachel x

Glitter at Lavinia

Morning lovelies! I do hope you are well today and of course, happy! I'm off on my hollibobs again today - we're off to Cleethorpes - well near there anyway! I think I'll be taking a trip down memory lane whilst there as we intend to visit Skegness on one day! Here's hoping the weather is kind to us. I have scheduled posts for the week and should be able to keep track of whats going on with my mobile - depending on the signal of course!

Today I have my entry for the current challenge over at Lavinia. The challenge is all about glitter and I used one of my fave Lavinia stamps to make this card.

I used the glitter on the wings and also in the sky to make stars.

Most of the inking has been done using distress inks or butterscotch adirondack. The black is archival. I also used a clarity mask to create the hills.

I'd like to enter this into the laviniastamps-add-some-glitter challenge this month.

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you have a great Saturday!

Big Hugs

Rachel x

summer colours at Lavinia

Morning lovelies! How are you today? I'm very excited as today is the day I take my two girls on their first ever flight. We're off to Germany with my mil to see my bil and his family. They are in Bielefeld which is in central germany - I've never been before and am really looking forward to it! I have scheduled posts for most days whilst I'm away - I would love it if you did leave a comment but please forgive me if I don't get around to seeing your makes - I just don't know if I'll be able to get online much at all! We'll try though!

Todays make is for the Lavinia challenge - the theme this month is summer colours and this is my interpretation of it:

All of the stamps I have used are from Lavinia - there are many different sets/stamps on there. I started by creating the background - I used distress inks to create the background - started off by doing a coat of squeezed lemonade all over then edging with dried marigold. I used a clarity mask to create the hills then started stamping.

I love the saying - it was from the free set from one of the magazines a wee while ago. 

I'd like to enter this into the laviniastamps challenge and also the challenge at paulaholifieldcrafts - albc-its-magic.

Big hugs to you and hope to see you soon!

Rachel xx

add gems or beads at Lavinia

Morning lovelies! Its so nice to have blogger back to normal isn't it! Well hopefully you've got it back to normal - no excuses now for me for not visiting though lol!!!!

Today I have a quick card to share with you that I've made for the Lavinia challenge. I had one of their 6x6 cards that came in a pack of stamps and it came in useful this week as I seem to have very little time - also I'm currently in the throngs of TV sample making so thats taking up most of the available crafting time. Anyway, having this card meant I was able to produce a card very quickly to the theme of the current Lavinia challenge. Here's my card:

I used several stamps - all Lavinia and simply overstamped onto the card.

Then I added some pearls and gems...

And mounted it onto a card - about 5 mins this one took! And I think its lovely!!

I'd like to enter this into the laviniastamps challenge-6-add-some-beads-or-gems. 

Before I go I'd just like to thank you all for your lovely comments and wishes for my mums birthday. She had a lovely day and liked all of her goodies! Here she is at the pub we went to for lunch .

she looks a bit surprised - perhaps it was when the bill arrived - lol !

Big hugs and thanks for visiting. Hope to see you again soon.

Rachel xx

Birthday Girl at Lavinia

Hello Lovelies - thanks so much for all your kind words yesterday! I was very happy to read them all - you really are lovely! Thankyou!!! Did you have a good weekend? We had another walk yesterday -in the afternoon and very short this time - in the morning it was party time! The girls had fun but it was hot in there! The walk was to a nearby park - and I had to have a monkey around - I hoped it was stretching my back out - not so sure! Lol!



I'm off to the gym today - hoping to get a personal training session with a lady who does GP referrals - if that doesn't happen I promise I will be very gentle - I don't like being unable to run but I know I have to play the long game!!!

On with today - I have a card I made using the freebie Lavinia stamps and also some other lavinia ones I have.

I have made this with the Lavinia challenge in mind but fortuitously it also fits the challenges at allsorts and the ribbon girl!

I used distress inks to create the background using mostly seedless preserves and bundled sage. The stamps are all from Lavinia - I hope they think this is okay for a birthday girl card - I think so despite the lack of sentiment. I didn't think it was necessary. The gold dots around the edge are some liquid pearls gifted to me by the lovely Mo almocraft on my recent visit - thanks Mo - they've already come in very handy!

So the challenges I would like to enter are

Lavinia:laviniastamps Birthday girl

Allsortsallsortschallenge: Purple passion

Ribbon Girlribbongirls: Purple.

I hope you have a great Monday and I'll hopefully catch up with you soon! Thanks for visiting!

Hugs

Rachel xx

Its pink at Lavinia

Good morning all! Thanks for your lovely comments on my clock - I really was unsure about it but you liked it - so thanks for that! My good friend Anne suggested painting the clock hands black - I think I may very well do that! It will definitely make them show up more clearly.

Today I have the card I've made with both the Lavinia challenge and the one over at Stamping Sensations this month. Its another bright one and very pink!

I started off with a wash of worn lipstick distress stain then used water to spritz and flick then dried it off. I used a clarity mask to create the hill shapes and used distress ink colours for the various hill layers. The plants and fairy were added next stamping in black archival and then the stars were done by stamping in versa and adding white opaque wow powders. Finally I added my penny black sentiment.

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

Lavinialaviniastamps March challenge

Stamping sensationssirstampalotchallenge: pretty in Pink

CFAScraftingforallseasons: Spring into spring

mmcs:mymumscraftshop Spring and Easter

Oldie but a goodieoldiebutagoodiechallenge: Spring has sprung

Thanks for dropping by today - and I hope you'll leave a message to let me know you dropped by!

Big 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

add glitter at Lavinia

Goodly morning to you! I hope you are well and happy! Its Penny's opening night tonight - I'll take my camera along and hopefully have a piccie to show you tomorrow. Its also my dads appointment today so I'm hoping that goes well too.

Todays card I made to enter this months challenge over at Lavinia stamps where the theme is 'add glitter'. Here's what I made:

I made the topper first - I stamped the lavinia fairy stamp in versa mark and added black wow powders to the image then heat set. I repeated this process with the lavinia star group but used clear embossing powder before heat setting. Then I added the clarity moon mask and set about building up the background using the ombre technique from last months craft stamper magazine - I used seedless preserves, dusty concorde and milled lavendar distress inks. Then after removing the mask I added lavinia foliage on the left and two small lavinia fairies near the moon stamping this time in black. Finally I used the Clarity landscape mask and added the hills in at the bottom is black soot.

I added this to some black card then threaded the ribbon up using the Sue wilson technique that I linked to yesterday. I hope you like this magical card!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Lavinia:laviniastamps add glitter
craftstamper-take-it-make-it-challenge-six
CFAScraftingforallseasons: For the girls
Divasdivasbydesignchallenge: AG
Sunday stamperpinkleart - purple/violet
Wow powderswowembossingpowder - use fabric (I hope ribbon counts?)
Crafty catzcraftycatzweeklychallenge - use a fairy

Hope you have a great Thursday! Thanks for dropping by and \i hope to see you again soon! Hugs rachel xx

A new home!

Hello there all! Well I'm so glad so many of you liked my card yesterday! That die is a beauty isn't it - you will definitely be seeing a lot more of it in the future!!! I've got quite a different card to share with you today - I had to have one of the new Lavinia zentangle stamps - and my card is my first play with it.

I've used radiant rains applied with a sponge to create the background - I used a red and a yellow and did some mixing too to get the dominant orange - it really does sparkle. Then I stamped and masked the mushroom house before applying the bayleaf mask/stencil from Imagination Crafts. I have used sparkle medium green which is also from Imagination Crafts. When dry I paper pieced my stamped image - I used black wow powders on red card and gold wow powders on blue card. Finally I stamped the LOTV sentiment.

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

Lavinia December Challengelaviniastamps: Anything goes

Thanks for looking today - I'm only doing a short post as I have three to do for tomorrow! Busy days these mid month ones!!! Thanks for dropping by and I hope to see you again soon!

Big Hugs

Rachel xx

bright hot colours at the Lavinia challenge and a crafternoon with my girls

Hello there! How are you? I hope you are well and happy! We're all good. I had a lovely evening on Saturday and I'm glad to report that the sticky toffee pudding was yum!!! A good recipe!

Today I've got a piece to share with you that I made for the lavinia challenge. Lets see what you think.

This is another item from everycraftsapound that I've altered. I started off using distress paints to make the background then used a mask from imagination crafts and black gloss embossing paste from dreamweaver to complete the background. The central area has been created using versamark and black wow powders and heat setting. Then I applied distress inks and pan pastels over the image. The letters were cut using cuttlebug dies and the flowers at the base of the image were cut using a crafty cutter die from Crafty sentiments.

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

Lavinia Challengelaviniastamps: Hot and bright colours
pan pastelpanpasteluk: Anything goes
Fab 'n' funkyfabnfunkychallenges: anything goes

Here's a little picture of what was going on in my little craft room yesterday afternoon - the girls were painting the boxes we're going to be giving to their teachers at christmas.

They did really well and even managed to look after my paint brushes well! When they've finished the decorating of the boxes I'll let you see them! We're thinking we'll put some choccies inside the boxes.

Thats all for today! I should be running this morning so I hope its not too cold! Thanks for dropping by and I hope to see you again soon!

Big Hugs

Rachel xx