Welcome to my blog!

From x stitch I moved into card making - now I am playing around with mixed media! I am taking part in different workshops and with help from crafty pals, learning about different mediums and techniques. Hope you feel inspired to create after a visit to my blog - Happy Crafting!

Sunday 27 October 2013

It's a Monster Mash!

I made a few more monster cards - I needed one for b-i-l birthday and I wanted to take some into work to sell to support Oxford Retired Greyhound Trust.




These are great for male birthdays - he is such a cutie!


Hope your weekend is going well


I am entering this card into the following challenges;

Daring Cardmakers - Spooky Birthdays
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes







Saturday 26 October 2013

Autumn Leaves and trying to be more organised!

I decided to tidy my craft room yesterday as there were piles of stuff everywhere and I couldn't find anything - there was no desk in sight because of all the stuff!

It took a while but finally it's looking ok!


I bought some storage ( 3 for 2! )


I put my sign up for the craft room :)


and put all my art journal stuff into the caddy I got at craftathon this year - now I can just take the whole thing into another room and work on it!

I made this card for a challenge on the crafting forum - I took it into work to sell for retired greyhounds and it sold the same day!


I used my stamp around the page set and my leaves I picked up in a bargain bucket!

Hope your weekend is starting off well!


I am entering this card into the following challenges;

Sweet Stampin Challenge -  Wood, Trees or Leaves
Sister Act Card Challenge -  Linky Party
Crafty Little Fairies -  Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
Pan Pastel - Autumn Colours



Friday 25 October 2013

Dog of the Week

Can anyone offer a home for the lovely Ricky?


Sadly Ricky has come back into Kennels after being homed for a short period of time - we would stress however that his return was not due to any problems caused by him - whilst Ricky was within a home he was clean - asked to go out to the toilet and was well behaved

Ricky is a boy with a quiet loving nature who last raced in December 2012 having had 114 races

Ricky has been castrated had his dental check etc and is ready to go to a new home - he has not been tested with domestic dogs or cats


If you can offer this lovely boy a home please visit here



If you would like to make a donation to this very deserving Trust

  please make a bank transfer to

 Oxford RGT – Account No 00515200  -  Sort Code  30-12-51

or send a cheque to Oxford RGT

 c/o 3 Stocks Tree Close, Yarnton, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 1LU  

  Any donations would be greatly appreciated

Monday 21 October 2013

Flurry of Fairies

Clare @ miscanthuscrafts set a Rudolph Day Challenge in September - I am obviously VERY behind!  I found my Martha Stewart stamp around the page and used a lilac versamagic ink pad. I added some LOTV diecuts that I have had for years - I wanted to whip up something quick to sell at work to raise money for Retired Greyhounds.



Hope your week has started well!



Sunday 20 October 2013

Any Port

I started with a gesso'd chipboard and spritzed with navy blue ink and and a home made spritz of white acrylic paint - I sprayed more water on and let the ink run.


I used a variety of inks; versafine, memento's and distress inks. I used bubble wrap, harlequin stamp and bottle tops to create some layering on the background.



I gesso'd some book pages and stamped over it and then used light blue chalk ink. I went around the edges with white acrylic paint as I felt it just didn't 'pop' enough.


I used a script and alphabet washi tape and then had stamped my previously unused JOFY stamp on the book page. I then used my kaisercraft 'tape' stamps over the top.


I love all things naughtical, we have pictures of beach huts and lifeboats around but for some reason this sentiment really sings to me. 

I have a vivid memory of my Mum saying this to me when I was going through a difficult time and it stayed with me. 

Effy Wild has a Sunday Swoon each week  - a chance to showcase things we did that made us proud and we can share them so others can swoon over them.

What are you proud of this week?


Creative Craft Challenges - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Nautical




Pan Pastel UK has Candy!

Win over £120 worth of candy at the Pan Pastel Challenge Blog!

Friday 18 October 2013

Pink Fridays

I am joining in on Clare's Pink Fridays again to promote breast cancer awareness!


As well as a variety of background stamps I used SU! Strength and Hope set which was made in support of breast cancer care and donated money to breast cancer care foundation.


I used a mix of memento inks, versamagic, versafine and distress inks.  Gems from stash and alphabet stamp set from craftwork cards.


I won these cards but it was a year or two ago so I can't remember any details - sorry!

Please promote breast cancer care or consider making a donation - it all makes a difference and we all know someone (or more than one!) who has been affected by breast cancer,


Dog of the Week

This is the lovely Dave!


Dave is a boy who would not chase a wind sock and decided that it was time to play whilst on the Track - in view of this it was decided that it would be better for Dave to find a loving home rather than try and race

Dave has been described as a good looking  dog with a very beautiful loving nature who is clean within the kennels - however he would need an Owner with a firm hand who would be able to teach him some rules and discipline - Dave is still young at 16 months of age - he is still considered a puppy until he is two years of age


If you can offer this lovely boy a home please visit here



If you would like to make a donation to this very deserving Trust

  please make a bank transfer to

 Oxford RGT – Account No 00515200  -  Sort Code  30-12-51

or send a cheque to Oxford RGT

 c/o 3 Stocks Tree Close, Yarnton, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 1LU  

  Any donations would be greatly appreciated

Tuesday 15 October 2013

Autumn Colours and a Blog Hop for Ready Teddy Go








 The October Challenge for Ready Teddy Go is Autumn Colours and it is Team Bear's turn for the Blog Hop.



All you need to do is leave a comment on each blog and be a follower of our Ready Teddy Go challenge to qualify for a chance to win this fantastic prize from The Hobby House.  I know the DT have had their eye on it and were wishing they could join in :)




Debbie (you are here!)








Right now onto this month's challenge



I put a small amount of gesso on some card and used a mix of zig art watercolour pens and distress inks to create the background. I used a ink splats stencil to put the green peeled paint DI on the top. I used black embossing powder for the the spider and bats (Tim Holtz).


I used Barry Spooky Bats which was kindly provided by our sponsors StampFairy.


Sentiment is from DigiStamp Boutique and I printed the image off onto digital paper - I coloured with promarkers and chalks but the paper gives the a slightly grainy appearance. I used black embossing powder on the die cut bats so they would be shiny.

 

Remember you must have a bear as the main image on your card to enter the challenge and any card that doesn't meet the criteria will be deleted from the list.



You can enter up to 4 times with different creations.



We are being sponsored this month by the fantastic  Stampfairy who are giving away a $10 voucher to spend in their online shop.



Hope you enjoy the blog hop!






I am entering this card into the following challenges;

Incy Wincy Designs - Halloween
Craft your Passion -  Embossing
Creative Craft Challenges - Anything Goes
Ladybug Crafts Ink - Anything Goes





Sunday 13 October 2013

Little Monster

* 2nd post of the day - please scroll down *


I always struggle with male cards but I won this stamp (and matching die) from Annabelle Stamps and think he is perfect for the job!


I have coloured him with Derwent watercolour pencils and blended with baby oil.


I am entering this card into the following challenges;

Less is More - Witches/Wizards/Monsters
Stampin for the Weekend - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Use a clear or rubber stamp
Addicted to Stamps - Anything Goes



Hello Friend

This card started off as a watercolour sheet of paper. I used the smackin acetate technique (colour on acetate or acrylic block) spritz with water and apply to card/paper. I used zig watercolour markers on the acrylic block and then onto a kaisercraft alphabet background stamp.



I then used some ink to draw circles and stamped over them with artemio stamps. I went around the edges with a black gelato.  I stamped the Lindsey Mason alphabet stamps from the background paper which was underneath the watercolour paper (no waste!). I love these alphabet stamps and the outline around them - you have seen them already and I'm sure you will be seeing them again!

Hope you Sunday is going well!

I am entering this card into the following challenges;

Allsorts Challenge - Use your ABC
Sister Act Card Challenge - Linky Party
Stampin for the Weekend - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Use a Rubber or Clear Stamp
ABC Challenge - W for Words



Friday 11 October 2013

Dog of the Week

This is the gorgeous Tootsie!!


Tootsie is a pretty girl with a very happy loving nature - enjoys her walks and just loves attention - travels well   Tootsie last raced in October 2012 having had 104 Races since that time she has been waiting for her forever home - has not been tested domestic dogs or cats

If you can offer this lovely girl a home please visit here



If you would like to make a donation to this very deserving Trust

  please make a bank transfer to

 Oxford RGT – Account No 00515200  -  Sort Code  30-12-51

or send a cheque to Oxford RGT

 c/o 3 Stocks Tree Close, Yarnton, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 1LU  

  Any donations would be greatly appreciated

Friday 4 October 2013

Pink Friday!

* 2nd post of the Day *

I'm joining Clare for PINK FRIDAY to promote October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month!


I have used one of my chipboard journals again with gesso and used pastel and zig watercolour markers. I used a stencil for the hearts, bubble wrap and ink splotches made by flicking ink. 


I have used versamark and silver glitter embossing powder on two of the sides.


I used a bravura stamp and embossing powder again but it is quite hard to take a picture of!


hmm basque doesn't show to well in this pic!

Craft Supplies used;

Craftwork Cards Alphabet
SU! Alphabet
Memento Brilliance Pearlescent Poppy
Versafine Crimson Red
DI Tattered Rose and Worn Lipstick
Zig Art Watercolour Markers
Pastels
Tando Heart Stencil
Bubble Wrap
Silver Glitter Embossing Powder
Bravura Stamps Bodice
Cart-Us Bodices Stamps


Link in with Clare and promote breast cancer awareness

I am entering this page into the following challenges;

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Moving Along with the Times - Anything Goes
Creative Craft Challenges - Anything Goes



Dog of the Week

This lovely lad is Bubba!


Bubba is a boy who has been described as having a very lovely nature - very affectionate -  no faults whatsoever he is a beautiful dog - he has had 100 + races and is now looking for his forever home

Bubba has not been tested with domestic dogs or cats

If you can offer this lovely boy a home please visit here



If you would like to make a donation to this very deserving Trust

  please make a bank transfer to

 Oxford RGT – Account No 00515200  -  Sort Code  30-12-51

or send a cheque to Oxford RGT

 c/o 3 Stocks Tree Close, Yarnton, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 1LU  

  Any donations would be greatly appreciated

Thursday 3 October 2013

How Do I...

I recently bought the Art Doodle Love book  - a lot of the pages already have colour layed down but not all - there are different things on the pages asking you to describe certain things in your life, memories etc - the page I used had very little on it at all



this is the opposite page showing how minimalistic the 2 page spread was.

I started by using pastels - I just scribbled them across the page thinking they would blend but they didn't - I actually liked the scribble effect and added more - (no mistakes in art ;) )


The only lettering that is mine is the 'how do I ?' - the the remainder of the sentence is stamped using 4 different alphabet stamps.

I have used copic spica atyou glitter pens for the details inside the letters and a multitude of stamps and inks (versamagic, versafine, staz on) for the rest of the detail.

I created the page with the 'One Little Word' Challenge in mind - the word is Do

I am also entering my page into the following challenges;

Moving along with the times -  Anything Goes
Papertake weekly -  Anything Goes



Wednesday 2 October 2013

Autumn Page

I wanted to create a page about my favourite season with all the things I love about it.


I used water soluble crayons for the base but it was really difficult to find something to write over it. I managed with a ballpoint pen but as I was finishing up the postie delivered a uniball gel pen which I tried on a small section and it seemed to work.


The Autumn and the black and white are acrylic paint as again I struggled to find something to go over it.

Hope your week is going well

I am entering this page into the following challenges;

Dream Valley Challenges - Autumn
Pan Pastel - Anything Goes
Simply Create Too - Fall/Autumn
Make It Monday - Linky Party