playing with sheenas stuff

Good morning lovely people - I must start by saying thankyou for your kind words about my journal page - I didn't mean to make you cry - sorry - and I wasn't looking for sympathy - but thankyou anyway.

I have a card to share with you today - I enjoyed making this too - it coming up to what would have been mine and Shauns 11th wedding anniversary. I am going to stand the card up on that day - I think the words mean 'forever yours' but I could be wrong!!

The image was stamped in potting soil archival and coloured with distress markers, a paint brush and water. The background was created with distress ink - fired brick - then I stamped the rose in red archival, masking as I went along.

Here's a closer look ... love this image - she's fabulous!!!

Have a good Saturday!

Big Hugs

Rachel x

Paris skyline

Hello there! How are you? I hope you are okay.I'm starting to feel more human again - thank goodness. I'm going to take it easy for a few days yet - just to make sure I'm over it!!! I'm not used to being poorly! Its been a bit of a shock!!!

Today I have a card to share with you I made using a sheena stencil:

I used distress inks - picked raspberry, evergreen bough and old paper to create the background then added the stencil and applied blacksoot distress ink through it.

The central stamp is one from Tim Holtz.

I am going to have to get a wriggle on if I'm going to enter any challenges this month! It used to be a very important thing for me but these days I seem to get around to entering very few - must try harder!!

Have a good Wednesday!

Hugs

Rachel x

playtime

Hello Lovelies! How are you today? Hope you are okay and if not sending hugs! We are good. Hoping to do the park run again today but its all weather dependant. I'll let you know if we manage it!

Today I want to share the results od a quick play with two of the new sheena stamp and die sets. I think the card looks overcrowded but I wanted to post it anyway!

I must say the dies cut fabulously easily and then the stamping helped to give a realistic result.

I look forward to making more of these for my garden happy friends!!

Whatever you are doing today enjoy yourself! Also just a reminder that my 4th-blogaversary candy is here.

Big hugs

Rachel x

Autumnal tag

Hello Lovelies - how are you? We are good! We are looking forward to a promise party at rainbows tonight and also restarting of drama group - the girls are so excited about that!!!

I have an autumnal tag to share with you today - I have combined some stamps and dies from Sheena with some dies from Tim Holtz and lots of distress!

I made the background first using DI twisted citron, ripe persimmon, victorian velvet and aged mahogonay. Then I did another sheet and die cut all the leaves. I also used the distress marker gathered twigs and distress tool.

next I stamped the squirrel and then painted with more DI - aged mahogonay, wild honey and vintage photo.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

sirstampalotchallenge/october-challenge-colours-of-autumn

pennyblackatallsorts october-challenge-warm-autumn-colours.html

fashionablestampingchallenges-changing-seasons

frillyandfunkie autumn-splendor

Thanks for looking today - I suspect I will be having a day off tomorrow! 

Big Hugs

Rachel xx

Playtime at my mums

Hello Lovelies! How are you? I hope you are fine and well. I wonder if you had the rain that we had yesterday. It was a very wet afternoon - and we were in Morecambe at a funfair! Oh joy! Perfect weather for it!!

I want to share a card with you today - made at my mums house last week using some of the new sheena christmas dies and stamps:

I thinks the pine cones are particularly effective.

The holly would have taken forever to cut out!

Love this pine cones

This was from an earlier release but is from Sheena! 

I enjoyed this little play and am pleased with the outcome! 

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge-two-of-something two plants - holly and pine

craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.august-2015

sirstampalotchallenge august-challenge-anything-goes-with stamp and a die

The girls are off to Mad science this week so I'm hoping to get a few miles under my belt - I can't push it too much though as I have plantar fasciitus - joggers heel! Very painful but curiously it goes whilst running! Something to do with endorphins apparently. Anyway - I'm hoping to do a 8 and 1/2 miler today. Not so long now until the Great North. 

Whatever you're doing enjoy yourself!

Big hugs Rachel xx

A chilled out day and a wedding card.

Hello Lovelies! How are you? I've had a lovely day today and enjoyed a swim in Lake Windermere - it wasn't too deep in the area I swam so I felt confident all the time - the funiest thing was putting my wetsuit on - blimey - I was worn out once I had done that!! But it was brilliant. And the swim was so refreshing - I think I will be doing that again as soon as I can!!!

So today I have the last piece to show you that I have done for the DT call over at the inkettes on facebook. I decided to use a stamp set and make a card that I cut using my hougie board.

One of my friends is getting married soonish so I wanted to be prepared and thought this was the ideal stamp set to use.

The main image was coloured with spectrum noir pencils. The bunting was coloured with distress inks and distress pens.

I don't know what the colour theme for the wedding will be - or indeed if there will be one - so I went with the purples and greens/blues. I think they look very summery!

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

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

Take care and thanks for any comments you choose to leave!

Hugs

Rachel xx

Thankyou thankyou thankyou!

Evening lovelies - well I have many things to be thankful for - not least the beautiful cards and gifts many of you have sent to me - I appreciate one and all and feel very much supported in the crafty sphere - so thankyou most sincerely! I will photograph my lovely cards from blog friends shortly but I have not had time just yet - but they are all sitting on my piano and bookshelves looking very beautiful! Thankyou!

Your support has been much appreciated today too - a day which would have been my beautiful Shaun's 48th birthday - his mum is with me and we two and my gorgeous girls went off for an evening at Gargrave near Skipton where we had tea at the anchor inn - its nothing special but Shaun always enjoyed the walk along the canal there then food - so thats what we did. I know he was with us and enjoyed it too!

Yesterday me and my girlies enjoyed our trip to the treetop trek at Brockhole - it was fabulous fun and we managed to do both the green and the blue circuit and the triple zip - excellent fun!







Big smiles all the way!!!!

Today I would like to share a 3D creation I have made using Sheena goodies plus an Eileen hull die.

I love this orchid stamp from Sheena - I've coloured it using spectrum noir pencils and fussy cut then stuck the image to stalks. I used hardboard and an eileen hull die to make the jar and covered it with black card embossed using a sheena folder, highlighted with renaissance gold gilding wax from paperartsy.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

sirstampalotchallenge june-challenge-dies-and-punches

Take care and have a wonderful evening!

Big Hugs

Rachel xx

A craft board and crazy rehersals schedule!

Hello Lovelies - sorry I've been M.I.A.. - the girls have a punishing rehersal schedule for a play on the 13th of this month - and I'm finding it hard to keep up. I have been getting some crafting time but not much - and blogging time is very limited! Anyway - I enjoy it all so no sympathy please!!! Lol!!!

Here's a thing I've been working on for a little while. I got this board from the MDF man at the show at the weekend.

I've made this using mostly sheena products.  I used the poppy die and stamp set from the victorian florals.  I also used 4 different sheena stencils plus the wildflower die. I also used an older sheena stamp set with the butterflies and dragonflies. I also used papersartsy fresco paints plus some pebeo paints.

I really enjoyed the layers in making this - there are holes in the bottom to put some hooks in when I get around to it!

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

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

unrulypaperarts - the great outdoors

welove2create/challenge-10-anything-creativemixed

Its going to be another busy one tomorrow - getting ready for the school fair on Saturday! Looking forward to it but I've also got a big run to do and visitors too!!! Deep breath!!!

Hope you have a great day tomorrow!

Big hugs

Rachel xx

First play with sheenas victorian florals and coffee pot make

Hello lovelies ....how are you today? I hope you are well and good - if not sending you gentle hugs xx. Its an okay day here weatherwise - a bit more wind and rain than I was expecting but better than Monday and Tuesday, I got a nice 5 and 1/2 mile run in this morning then after a bit of shopping and cleaning I  worked in the garden. We have a party at Rainbows this evening and then ts time for drama rehersal. The girls are in a greek play based on the wooden horse of troy. Its very funny and I'm hoping it goes down well! Then tonight I'm hoping to get into my attic to make my christmas card club makes for Sunday! We'll see how that all goes!

Today I would like to share with you my first make using sheenas victorian florals. For this one I used the anemone set of dies and stamps.

The sentiment stamp is an old one - also from sheena. I created the background using aquatints from spectrum noir.

I cut and embossed the flowers using coordinations card stock then overstamped in hydrangea archival ink using the stamps.

I think they work brilliantly and look forward to using them again soon.

Here's the card we made at coffeepot this week - it was an exercise in masking - the stamps are from hobby art. Not sure about the sentiment stamp though. All colouring was done by painting with distress inks.

So there we have it! I hope you enjoy the rest of your day and I look forward to reading any comments you choose to leave! Big hugs!

Rachel x

Together in Electric Dreams

Hello Lovelies! How are you today? I hope you are feeling fine? I am doing good - I was really pleased yesterday as I swam a mile for the first time ever! Brilliant! I'm going to see if I can repeat it today - woohoo!

Today I have a canvas to share with you - its A4 in size. Its done mostly with the FSC stamping challenge Lovers in mind.

I created the background using a stencil from clarity - I applied some wendy vecchi crackle paste through it then left it to dry. Once dry I painted it with black gesso and let that dry. Then I applied some silver pebeo gilding wax from pebeo and rubbed over this with a variety of alcohol inks.

The central stamp is from a christmas set by Sheena douglass - I coloured it in distress inks.

Here's a close up of the effect on the crackle paste of the gesso, gilding wax and alcohol ink.

I thought it looked dreamy - thats why I chose the song. It just came to me - then that got me thinking about my lovely Shaun - we'll always be together in electric dreams!! Quite fitting as he was a physicist!

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

fashionablestampingchallenges-96-lovers

simonsaysstampblog wednesdaychallengeanything-goes-15

inspiration emporium - everything goes

welove2create challenge-9-anything-creativemixed

Big Hugs!!

Rachel xx

Messing about on the water

Morning lovelies! Thanks for your kind comments yesterday and best wishes for Lucy - we had a great day - really enjoyed Lucy's birthday and I know she did too. We went to pizza hut for lunch then to pick up my mum and dad for the afternoon. We had an early birthday tea then took mum and dad home and went to see Hansel and Gretal in the Park in Lancaster. It really was magical - a brilliant night - loved it. Here's Lucy with her cake:

Today I have a card to show you that I made just for the hell of it. I have had this stamp for a long time and to my shame haven't inked it up until now. Its a stamp set by Sheena - who else?

I have stamped the main image with archival black - dried off then painted with distress inks. I've used distress inks and masks to create the sky and hills.

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

OCCourcreativecorner: Summertime

Stamping sensationssirstampalotchallenge: AG

simonsaysstampblog wednesdaychallenge summer

Thanks for dropping by today - Shaun should get back today so that will make us all feel fabulous - we do miss him when he's away!

Big Hugs

Rachel xx

4 legged animal at Craft a scene

Hiya there! Well did you have a good Saturday? I hope so. We did - it was Lucy's party. We all went to the climbing wall at Lancaster University - the group of 8 of them had a fabulous climb and lots of fun. We had a bit of a problem getting the food which wasn't good but in the end didn't have to pay and got lots of good food - so that wasn't so bad!

Today is the second sunday in the month and time for my second card for Craft a scene where the theme this month is to make a scene including a four legged animal. I was lucky enough to get top 5 at Allsorts last week for my tiger. Todays card features another of sheenas stamps - this time a Christmas card.

I've used three of the recently released Christmas stamps to create this card - they're all from the same plate.

I stamped the deer first then masked and added the trees. I used clarity masks to create the hills and sky. The deer were coloured using spectrum noir pens. I added the glitter last.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Simon says stamp:simonsaysstampblog Sparkle

PTWpapertakeweekly: AG

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

Hugs

Rachel x

down by the seaside

Good morning Lovelies! I hope you are well today and also happy! We are all smiling and trundling ever closer to the end of term - at 3.30pm today school's out!!! Yay! Very exciting!!! Looking forward to lots of fun!

Today I have a card to show you that I made for the artistic stamper challenge - the theme this month is 'By the seaside'. I always slip into singing the Led Zeppelin song at this point - hence the title of my post. I've used stamps from Sheena Douglass to make up the background using the emboss resist technique. I've used wow powders in a variety of colours and then used distress inks to fill in the background. The main image comes from Crafty Individuals. I must confess to loving this card - and its evolution was very enjoyable too!

I've also stamped with some more crafty individuals word stamps too once the background was dry, overstamping in black archival.

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

Artistic Stamper:theartisticstampercreativeteam By the Seaside

Craft Stamper: craftstamperTake it make it July Challenge: Emboss resist

mmcsmymumscraftshop: summer

allsortsallsortschallenge: splish splash splosh

FSCfashionablestampingchallenges: Dreaming of summer

frillyandfunkie- cool-water

Thanks for looking today and I hope you enjoyed your visit! Thanks also for any comments you leave!

Big Hugs

Rachel x

Sheena India makes 7 and 8 plus last coffee pot make.

Good morning Lovelies! Well its show day today for my little munchkins - Lucy is doing ballet and both are doing tap/musical theatre. They have a matinee and an evening performance. I'm really looking forward to seeing them this afternoon - but not so much being behind the scenes this evening - lol!!! Anyway - I will be late in tonight so if I'm late commenting you'll know why!!!

Today I have my final two makes to share with you from Sheenas India DVD and also one I made with the ladies at the last coffeepot session.

This one was from the DVD and involved using alcohol markers to create the background - great technique Sheena - thanks for that one! The main image was stamped and embossed on the reverse then blender pen was used to take the colour from the image - very clever stuff!

This one was also from the DVD although I did use a different method to colour the elephant.

This is what i made with the ladies at coffee pot last time - they all enjoyed it - its the final session of the academic year on Monday - they've asked to do gelli plate - so thats going to be interesting! I'll report back how it went soon!!!

Thats all for today! I hope you have enjoyed your visit and look forward to seeing you here again soon!

Big Hugs

Rachel xx

Faux bleaching technique tag

Morning all! this is a scheduled post - I have my school summer fair today. Hopefully it will be a big success - we've worked hard and are all looking forward to the day! I let you know how it goes soon!

I have a second entry to the craft stamper challenge to share with you today - its a tag I made using a round piece of cut and dry foam this time to act as the faux bleach tool.

The stamps are from Sheena Douglass. I started with the background and used blue and green distress inks to create it - then used water on my cut and dry foam and blobbed the water on the tag and blotted with kitchen towel. I then stamped the seaweed images.

I stamped the seahorses and painted with distress inks. The seastar was coloured with spectrum noirs.

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

Craft stamper craftstamper- take it make it challenge June

Crafters CompanionCraftersCompanion: Tags, bags and boxes.

Thanks for dropping by today - I'll catch up as soon as I can!

Hugs

Rachel xx

by the seaside at Craft a scene

Afternoon all - I hope you are well and happy - its my hubbies birthday today - so we have another day of celebrations! No more cake today though - Shaun is a very healthy man!!!!

Its the second week at craftascene for their challenge 'by the sea'. Here's what I've done for your inspiration:

All of the stamps I used are from Sheena Douglass and I used a clarity mask to create the sky using a brush rather than a makeup sponge. I quite like the effect and will try it again. I used pan pastels to do the colouring of the image. Here's a closer look:

I hope you will join us this month in this challenge!

Big Hugs

Rachel xx

Creative Inspirations Anything goes with option of a sketch

Hello lovelies - how are you today? Thanks for your lovely comments on my box - I love it so I'm glad that you did too!  I wonder if you'll like todays offering as much? Its my make for this weeks challenge at Creative Inspirations:

This is made using the sketch option from this week. I have used a stamp from Sam Poole at Creative Expressions that I bought from That Craft Place. 

The background was done on the gelli plate and the flower was made from white felt coloured by pan pastels. The leaves are from a sheena douglass embossing folder - I swiped the leaves with cactus green staz-on and then cut the leaves out. The letters came from the last Do crafts creativity magazine. I made this card for my friend Rose - she's our Brown Owl!

This week's challenge details are Anything Goes + Option of a Sketch!

(You may choose between the new Sketch or one of the old ones. Just state which you have used).

Sketch No.10

You can find a link to the page of our old Sketches in the sidebar or simply by clicking below:
OLD SKETCHES

This week's prize is from BUGABOO STAMPS and is 

7 DIGITAL IMAGES OF THE WINNER'S CHOICE!

Check out what my teamies have done here.

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

PTWpapertakeweekly: AG with option of summer

Tuesday throwdowntuesdaythrowdown - use paint or mist - paint was used on the gelli plate to create the background.

Fussy and Fancyfussyandfancychallenge: Outdoors

Craft Room Challengescraft-roomchallenge: things with wings

I hope you have a good Wednesday - Penny had a lovely time yesterday - they had a pirate themed day including a treasure hunt - and she managed to find a pebble with a fossil shell in it! So she was very happy! I'm hoping I'm happy after my run today - I've not really been doing any - but now I need to get back into training if I'm going to complete the great north run in early september. 

Big Hugs to you and thanks for visiting today!

Hugs

Rachel xx