Craft a scene: Winter scene with the option of a trishutter

Good afternoon all! Well I suspect you're getting tired of my posts right now so I'll keep it short! Lol!!! At Craftascene we are launching Decembers challenge - and this month the theme is a winter scene - and there is the option of creating a trishutter card. I've done that - although I've had some comments from people who have seen the card already that it was such a gorgeous scene it was a shame to cut it up! Lol! I understand where that view is coming from but I actually quite like the effect! What do you think?

The stamps are from a set by Sheena douglass when she was at Creative Expressions - I think its called vintage Christmas. I've done most of the colouring with promarkers and also added some glitter - the snowflakes are cut using spellbinders dies. I cut the tri- shutter using my hougie board. It was relatively simple to make!

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

Totally Gorjusstotallygorjuss: Snow
AGOACpinkgemchallengeblog: Winter wonderland
I love promarkers:ilovepromarkers AG
Simon says Stampsimonsaysstampblog: AG
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas challenge - craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2December Extra
countryviewchallenges - whoo-hoo-its-nearly-christmas- bah humbug

I wonder did any of you notice my getting a GDT post on the Pan pastel (premium brands) challenge blog? I'm there for the month of December - its really exciting stuff and I'm well chuffed to have been asked! I'll blog the piece I made tomorrow although it was on their site already today!

Big Hugs from me and thanks for dropping by! Hope to see you again soon!

Rachel xx

Inspired by Funkie Junkie week 6 from the 12 tags of Christmas

Hello there! How are you? Very good I hope and keeping wrapped up in this cold snap. I can't believe all the snow that has been flying around on pictures in blogland - we've not had any yet - thank goodness! Just to report that Lucy had a great day too - she loved the canoe raft and the tree climbing and was absolutely shattered by the time she came home! So she'll sleep tonight - not sure about the other one though - she's lost her first tooth so is lying in wait for the tooth fairy I think!!!!!

Todays card is inspired by the tag here from Linda Coughlin of the thefunkiejunkie 12-tags-of-christmas challenge sponsored by the thefunkiejunkie Boutique. I was inspired by the plaid and the number , the gold bow and the red cardinals and also the tree.

The paper is from LOTV - the winter wishes pad - and the birds are cut using spellbinders dies. The trees are cut using a die'sire die and then brayered with sparkle medium (diamond) from Imagination Crafts. The numbers have been cut using a cuttlebug die set and the banner is a spellbinders die - I stamped the diecut with a script stamp.Then just added the lace.

I'd like to enter this card into the Funkie Junkie challenge week 6 thefunkiejunkie and also
Fab n funky week 2fabnfunkychallenges: AG
Rhedd and rosiesrheddandrosies: Christmas is coming
TPSthepapershelter: Christmas is coming
Penny'spennyschallenges AG
Tuesday throwdowntuesdaythrowdown: Snowbirds

Now how's about a little candy - its just for you followers and is a commenters candy - its a few things some stamps and papers and a pan pastel that got duplicated in a recent win I had - but if you'd like to be in the running please leave a comment on this post and be a follower. I will draw a winner next Tuesday morning. Just a little thankyou to all you lovely people who comment so regularly!

Thanks for dropping by today and hope to see you again soon! before I go news from Crafty sentiments!

Hugs

Rachel xx

Halloween at Crafty Sentiments

Hello there - long time no see!!!Lol! Well its time for my second post of the day - a new challenge is starting over at craftysentiments where the theme this week is Halloween.

Here's what I did:

First off I created the background paper by stamping using a stampin' up Halloween set. Then I used the image Count-Dracula from Crafty Sentiments and coloured him with promarkers. I cut the image using a spellbinders die then assembled the card. The ribbons are from a candy I won last year from the lovely Kezzy - thanks Kezzy!

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

Simon says stamp weds challengesimonsaysstampblog: Stamping
Polkadoodles polkadoodles: Halloween
Crafty Catz: craftycatzweeklychallengeHalloween
Sweet stampin:sweetstampinchallengeblog Halloween
Totally Gorjusstotallygorjuss: Wings and things
Lexislexiscreations: Halloween
Incy wincyincywincydesigns: Halloween


The prize for the challenge this week is this fabulous stamp:



Why not have a go and enter! I'm sure you must be making something for Halloween!

Thanks for dropping by and I hope to see you again later - my final post for today goes live at 3pm UK time. Hope to see you then! Big Hugs....

Rachel xx

Vintage/shabby chic at whoopsi daisy

Morning all! I hope you are well and happy .. if not here's a big hug  .... hope thats made it a bit better!

There's a new challenge starting over at whoopsi daisy this week - the theme is vintage/shabby chic. Here's what I did:

A great image this one - I think its from sheet 445. The birdcage is a marianne die and the bird a spellbinders cardinal die. Colouring is via promarkers. The papers are from papermania and the sentiment also papermania.

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

OSAATonestitchatatimechallenge: Use a digi
IDICrobynsfetishchallengeblog: Use a digi

Thanks for dropping by today - looking forward to seeing you again soon! Big Hugs Rachel xx

Not square or rectangular: Creative Inspirations

Good morning all! Thanks so much for all your comments yesterday - it was a bit of a marathon of posts - so thanks for bearing with me - you're very kind! I was very excited yesterday too to win the WOW powders September challenge - it means I got 6 wow powders of my choice - now thats a wonderful prize for me!!!

Onto today! This week's challenge at Creative Inspirations  is No Square or Rectangle Cards!

This week's prize is from THE PAPER SHELTER and is a $20 GIFT CERTIFICATE!

I've used a paper shelter image to create my card:

The image has been coloured with promarkers and distress ink has been used around the edge after cutting with a spellbinders die. The mat has also been cut with a spellbinders die and then mounted on an easel. Some crafty emblies leaves have been added and on the base I've used an embossed piece of card and ribbon.

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

Seemacrafts:seemacrafts Autumn colours
Tuesday throwdowntuesdaythrowdown: Colours of fall
Heck of a challengeheckofachallenge: Autumn Colors
Feeling Craftyfeelingcraftychallenge: Autumn
come and get it challengescomeandgetitchallenges: fall colours
OSAATonestitchatatimechallenge: Autumn
PIOpileitonchallenge: Leaves

Thanks for dropping by today and for any comments you choose to leave! Hope to see you again soon!

Hugs

Rachel xx

Preparing for Christmas at Christmas Cards All Year Round

Afternoon to you! Hope its a good one! This is my third and final post for the day - over at Christmas cards All year Round christmascardsallyearround there's a new challenge starting called Preparing for Christmas. I decided to make a card based on cooking preparations:

This card is made using two stamps from LOTV - the cake decorating and the recipe stamp. The image was coloured with promarkers. I then used a spellbinders die to cut out the image and added a charm too. The sentiment is from Britannia dies. The flowers are WOC and papers from stash!

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

CHN extra challengecraftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2: AG
CHNCcraftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge: Use three main colours - red, green, white
totally Gorjuss:totallygorjuss Traditional Christmas Colours
Glitternsparkleglitternsparklechallengeblog: Add some metal
OLLCBooh-la-la-creationschallenges: F is for Festive season
cypccraftyourpassionchallenges: add a little charm
LOTV ideastoinspire anything goes

Hope you've had a great day - hope to see you again soon! Big Hugs! Rachel xx

sneak peak number one from Crafty Sentiments new release

Good morning lovelies - How are yo today? Thankyou so much for all your kind comments yesterday about my card and post race picture - believe me I couldn't have ran any further that day and that really was a glow of happiness  at having completed!!!!

Today I've got a sneak peak for you of one of the images that Crafty Sentiments are releasing later this week - there's more on the inspiration blog here - I love this little character - and this dragon is supercute.

Gorgeous isn't she - and whats more I've got another sneaky peek tomorrow too!!!! So what did I do? I stamped the image and coloured with promarkers then created the background using a mask I cut myself from the end of a landscape mask and distress ink. Then I did the same with the sentiment. The background paper is from K and Co and I've cut some bunting using a dienamics die  and the gates using a spellbinders die. I added the name as the card is destined for a little girl Lily's 7th birthday tomorrow.

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

Tuesday Throwdowntuesdaythrowdown: Things with wings
Divasdivasbydesignchallenge: AG
I love promarkers:ilovepromarkers AG

Thanks for dropping by today and for all of your comments on yesterdays card and also my finishers photo - believe me - I was shattered and couldn't have run for much further - although I did end up walking about another 2 miles searching for my bus! Lol! You've gotta laugh! Hope to see you again soon!

Hugs

Rachel xx

autumn colours at crafty sentiments

Good morning lovelies - I hope you are well. I'm feeling very much better after a big rest yesterday - and thanks for all of your well wishes - I've not totalled up fully yet but I think I will have raised around £360 for Asthma UK which is brilliant.

Today is  the start of a new challenge over at craftysentiments. Todays challenge is all about autumn colours - here's what I did:

This is using the images Lets-Play-Music and -Kitty-on-wall from crafty sentiments. She's stamped and coloured with promarkers then cut with a spellbinders die. I made frame for this using metallic flakes from indigo blu - I think this was morris dance mix but I might be mis - remembering - sorry. This item is about a year old now - as are most of my flakes.

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

AIartisticinspirationschallenges: Frame it
CYPCcraftyourpassionchallenges: Autumn colours
Lexis:lexiscreations autumn colours
Oldie but a goodie:oldiebutagoodiechallenge dies and punches


Thanks for visiting today and hope to see you again soon.

Hugs

Rachel x

Mid way Inspiration post for Imagination Crafts: Butterflies

Good morning lovelies - when this post goes live I will be sitting on a coach - nearly all the way to Newcastle with any luck - getting ready for the Great North Run. Here's hoping the high winds and rain that are forecast don't arrive until later in the day!!!

Todays first post is a reminder of the challenge over at imagination-craftschallenges this month. The challenge is butterflies and to be in with a shot at the prize which is £40 worth of IC goodies - you need to use something from imagination crafts!

Here's what I did:

I made a double side stepper card using my hougie board. Then I made a distressed background using blues and cream and green. Did some background stamping with a script stamp - and then I used an Imagination Crafts Stencil (here) with black embossing paste. When dry I cut the panel into three and added to the stepper. I stamped the sentiment onto neenah card and distressed with tumbled glass then cut with a spellbinders die. Then I stamped some butterflies from the butterfly decoupage stamp (here) from Imagination crafts and added them to the card.

I will add some challenges later.

Thanks for dropping by today and thanks to the lovely people out there who have supported me in this run - in both words and sponsorship. It really does mean a lot to me!

Big Hugs

Rachel xx

Favourite Colours at Creative Inspirations

Good Morning to you! How are you doing? I'm feeling happy to have my time back today but sad because my gorgeous girls are back at school - it won't be too long though before its time for half term so I have to content myself with that ..... and boy do I need that time back!!!!

I took Lucy to the pictures yesterday to see the 'One Direction' movie - it surprised me - I thought I was going to hate it but I actually came out of it thinking what a nice bunch of lads they are! So she's won me over a little.

Over at Creative Inspirations  (cinspirations) this week's challenge is to Use Your Favourite Colour Combination!

This week's prize is from MY MUMS CRAFT STOP who are offering a £10 GIFT CERTIFICATE to one Winner and a 10% DISCOUNT TO EVERYONE who takes part!

There is also another prize from our other sponsor KENNY K DOWNLOADS who will be giving another winner 4 IMAGE OF THEIR CHOICE!

I used he image called Kitty Catastrophe that you can get from here.

My fave colour combo for this card is red, black and grey. I think she looks pretty snazzy! I've coloured her with promarkers and cut her out with a spellbinders die before inking up the die edge with Distress Ink. The wording is cut from a brittania die and the diamante swirl is from the Hobby House.

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

LEJlejdesignschallengeblog: Something Shiny
PTWpapertakeweekly: AG
Bearly Minebearlymine-challenges: AG
Hobby House Challengehobbyhousechallenge: Hobby House Artists

Here's some more holiday snaps.

 This one was on a walk at Lands end - I used the self timer on my camera - hence the funny angle. Penny is sticking her tongue out - she was a nightmare on this walk - she just can't seem to get pleasure from it - but hey ho!!! We do so we'll battle on!!!

This one is back at the theme park - Lucy and her daddy are enjoying the teacup ride! Talking of Shaun - he's going to be on the telly soon on the One Show - he's got a few minutes slot talking about liquid helium which is what his research is into! Should be in the next couple of days! We're very excited about it!

Thanks for looking and I hope to see you again soon xx

Hugs

Rachel xx

favourite autumn pattern at Crafty Sentiments

Hello lovelies! How're you doing? Hopefully good. The good news from here is that my computer decided to behave and so I have uploaded my holiday snaps and can add a few ..... don't worry I won't go into overdrive!!!! Also my leggies managed my hill run today - so I'm feeling a little more confident about managing the Great North Run in less than two weeks time now!!! Lol!!!! (thats nervous laughter by the way!).

So here's my card for the new Crafty Sentiments Challenge - which is favourite autumn pattern or fall colours. I'll be honest with you - I didn't know what an autumn pattern was - so I thought it must be leaves falling - but if you check out the blog post here - I'm sure you'll find much more guidance on what it means! I think its plaid or argyle or gingham - that sort of thing.  Anyway I went for leaves and autumn colours - plus a cutie from Crafty Sentiments that really is all about autumn - a sleeping Hedgie!!!!! He's called Sleeping-Hedgehog and you can get him by following the link.

I've used a sheena douglass embossing folder to create the background and highlighted the orangey brown paper with teadye distress ink. I've also used this around the image that was cut with a spellbinders die and coloured with promarkers. The ribbon is from my stash.

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

IDIC:robynsfetishchallengeblog Add some leaves
Crafters Companioncrafterscompanion: Embossing
Just for fun challengelaineyscraftyspace-justforfun: Autumn colours
ALBCpaulaholifieldcrafts: CAS
Totally Gorjusstotallygorjuss: Texture

And so to my holiday snaps:

 This first was taken by Lucy and is at Glen Durgan Garden - a National Trust property we visited on the first day. It was fabulous with a really great maze and something called the Giants Stride that the girls both really enjoyed. Just at the bottom of the property there's also a small village and beach and there was a regatta taking place on the day we visited. It was great fun.

This second one is at the theme park 'Flambards' - Lucy and Penny are enjoying the ride called Harley's angels! They were very funny - Penny always seemed to have the faster bike but Lucy wasn't for letting her through!!!! They have a great deal where you pay once for entry and can then return every day for the next 5 days. So we tended to spend most of the day elsewhere then land up at flambards for an hour or two wih the girls really enjoying the rides!

I'll put a few more piccies up tomorrow!

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

Big Hugs

Rachel x

alec's card

Good morning - this is a card I made for one of Lucy's class mates - Alec was 7 earlier this month! I've used a stamp from LOTV.

Alec is another jujitsu buddy - hence the image - I teamed it with bold colours - the orange to go with his belt colour and blue as a contrast. The image has been coloured with promarkers and cut using a spellbinders die. The cogs are squidgey pins coloured with distress stains. The card was made using centura pearl card on a hougie board.

Thanks for dropping by today and I hope to see you again soon!
I'd like to enter this card in the following challenge: liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge-no-flowers

Big Hugs

Rachel x

yellow rose

Good morning! This is another scheduled post! I'd like to show you the card I made for my Joanna Sheen Forum Cardswap this month - the theme was roses - and I had to think long and hard before I remembered I had this old kanban stamp from many years ago. I chose yellow as the colour as I adore yellow roses:

The background was another kanban stamp that I stamped in butterscotch adirondack over and over to create the background itself. The image was coloured with promarkers. I used DI around the outside of the image (scattered straw) and then added it to a mat cut with a spellbinders die. The ribbon is from Creative Expressions.

Thanks for joining me today and I look forward to seeing you again soon!

Big Hugs

Rachel x

Day 3 new releases at Crafty sentiments

Good morning! Its my second post of the day and I'm bringing to you another new card from the New Releases at Crafty Sentiments - this one is lovely and she's called 'the mask'. A really pretty image - here's what I did.

The card shape was made using the hougie board - on the base I added some fabric that I found at Terry's fabrics that you can find for yourself here. The image was coloured with promarkers and cut out using a spellbinders die. The flowers are WOC. Check out what the guest DT did with this image over on the Inspirations site here.

The three new images plus 7 others will be available in the shop from tomorrow. The 7 images not yet shown will be featuring in tutorials on the Inspiration blog from Friday onwards. I'm doing one on Saturday - the image is lovely - I hope you're going to enjoy seeing what I did with it.

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

Crafty Ribbonscraftyribbonschallenge: Use three of something - three masks
SSSSsimonsaysstampblog: Carnival
PFPpromarkerchallenge: Fave colour combo - purples and white

Thanks for dropping by today - I look forward to reading what you think about this card! Big Hugs and look forward to seeing you again soon xx

Rachel xx