Beeee Yourself

The first Sunday of April means new challenges at We Love Stamping and Stamping Sensations where our themes are Favourite Stamps with the option to add Lace and/or Ribbon as selected by Cathy and Flowers, Birds, Animals and Nature. Prizes come from Lavinia and AALL and Create. Also have a Tag-Along (and ATC's) update further down.

My SS make uses a number of Lavinia stamps, Hummingbird, Bumble Words, Bumble and Hum and Flower Petals. I did the stamping first instead of background as is my norm, coloured the Hummingbird, some soft blue around the image and the stencilling working in from the corners. Added little dots around the birdie with Posca pens and finally the words.

A second Lavinia one using the new Dreamatorium collection, as the week went on I wasn't really sure if I would get this made, migraine more on that off since last Sunday and blood sugars all over, so not very happy with it, but as my youngest Son would say "it is what it is".

My WLS share using AALL and Create Textured Floral (531), discontinued but still available from a few stockists. I scored the base card and ran inkpads down to create a vintage look, some background stamping for the circles and washi tape. The Flower stamped twice, cut out and decoupaged, same with the words, circle and Birdie and a lace bow. So lots of snippets which will fit nicely over at the Snippets Playground, I made this a while back so afraid no photo of my bits and pieces.

One more simple wreath design using the new Lavinia Dreamatorium collection, a really quick make using the small leaf set, along with one of the Mice again and one of the  Fledgling's.

Many thanks to all who have shown interest in our new challenge Tag-Along (and ATC's), we've received such positive comments. Lots of you have also shared our logo and link to help spread the word, appreciated by all three of us.

We will be having a little giveaway on Wednesday 9th and all those linked up to follow and/or left comments by that day will be in with a chance of winning, so if you haven't already. hope you will head over there and add your name.

Green shrooms

A very quick and a little belated post with my card for the reveal day over at the Card Chain Challenge. My card above went to Gail in Norway following the Black and White plus one colour palette, my 'one' is Green, along with the stripes and friendship options. 

You'll have to forgive limited details, other than all Lavinia products, not had the best of weeks and off for an NHS merry go round day, so time is somewhat limited. I received this fun card from Jo, I do love a Hedgie, thank you Jo.

My thanks to all who have shown interest in our new challenge Tag-Along (and ATC's), we've received such positive comments and our follower numbers are building nicely. Lots of you have also shared our logo to help spread the word, thanks from all three of us there.

I'll be round to visit soon as.

Tag-Along (and ATC's)

Good morning, it's the 1st April but it's not an April Fool, instead all the details about the new challenge which I just may have mentioned once or twice during the last couple of weeks.

Myself Lynn and Pinky have been craft and blogging friends for many years and together came up with the idea for a challenge which is we think, a little different. It's called Tag-Along (and ATC's), I won't bore you with all the details as you can find all you need to know here.

We are really excited about our new venture and hope we will see lots of you joining us for some fun. We also hope you will link up to be a follower as we will be having one or two random giveaways during April, winners will be drawn from new followers and commenters ahead of our first challenge on 1st May.

My shares today use Lavinia stamps, the Fairy on the tag above is a very, very old one called Midsummer's Night and sadly no longer available. Always think she should be standing against or under a tree as she is today, contemplating the kaleidoscope of Butterflies. The tree is Tree of Wisdom, I masked it a couple of times to extend the height of the trunk, grasses are Leaf Spray and flowers Lavender (I know, they're orange!)

An ATC as well along with a little pocket for which I've made a basic step by step tutorial which you can find here on the new challenge blog. They are really quick to make so I prepared several in readiness. Again all Lavinia stamps, Little Pixie reaching out to a passing (rather large) Bug, the same Oak Leaves as the tag above plus some Field Grass. I am going to share both at the new 'Joy of Spring' theme at Lavinia stamps challenge.

Please do hop over to the new challenge blog to find our more. 

We would be delighted if you would share the logo above on your own blogs along with the link to the new challenge blog to help us spread the word.

Spring Flowers

Morning Peeps, a new challenge at Allsorts where the theme has been selected by Ellie and it's Spring Flowers and the usual A/G. Our prizes come from AALL and Create.

Whilst I love creating cards in Autumn colours, making for Spring just tops it as it's my favourite season, full of hope and renewed growth. Above Tulips from A&C's Petal Pops (1249), stamped twice onto snippets of inked card, Heart Marks the Spot die (46) and in the background rub on's from various sheets.

This one used one of the older A&C sets Elegant Spring Florals (623), still available from several stockists, the Bluebells and Snowdrop stamped onto a stencilled base and the Tulip cut out and raised with pinflair.

The new Rudolph Days challenge has a couple of days to run so just in time to pop over with this one. The frame is from Sweet Poppy, inked with Elements and simple stamping using Lavinia Large Reindeer and Fir Tree stamped in the centre, plus a bit of glitter to ground them.

Three days to go.......we're excited and hoping to see you there.

Got my eye on you

Morning Peeps, a quick post with a share for the current Lavinia Challenge with the theme of Animal Magic, which closes tomorrow.

I started by masking a focal circle into which I stamped Arch of Angels and added some stencilled brickwork, Fairy Path leads up to the arch where Pipin is sitting gazing upwards, oblivious to who may be watching him. Next masked and extended Tree of Wisdom, topped with some leaves using Oak Leaf Flourish. A Fox keenly watching Pipin and little Strooms in the foreground. Down the leading edge Faerie Spells stamped with Versamark and gold mica minerals brushed over, with do have sparkle but not in my photo. The minerals do add a lovely subtle shimmer over Versamark as well as Clair as both stay wet long enough to apply.

I've already entered this one so sharing here as well, Sticker Stencil Bottle Bundle which comes complete with jar stopper stamp. Inside Pheasant who is being eyed up by Reynard from Fox Set 2, Tree of Hope, mini leaves and berries on the tree and around the bottle.

Just over a week to go now, 1st April and we will reveal all!!

Hope you all have a crafty week, lets hope the suns returns, been very dismal and wet here last few days after the lovely hint of Spring.

Young mind, wild heart, free sould

Morning everyone, I've stepped right outside my comfort zone with this one but when I saw this beautiful image on Lynn's blog I just had to make a card with it.

It's a freebie for this month Gecko Galz challenge and really is gorgeous with so much colour, detail and depth. I printed her three time so I could cut out part of the elaborate headdress to decoupage. The frame is a ready made one to which I added some stars using a stencil and Lavinia's brand new Flying Fig ink, then arranged the image so the decoupaged elements sat just over the edges of the frame.

The papers are from MCS - know I'm a rarity but I don't buy or own any paper packs, but these I thought were quite complimentary to the colours of the image. A snippet of lace from my box which never seems to diminish and a sentiment cut into three from my Moments set.

Now for the Path of Positivity where this month it's about making something you wouldn't normally make, it is still a card but using a technique and products I wouldn't usually work with. I was gifted the recent release of Lavinia Mica Minerals and among them a beautifully vibrant red which just said Poppies to me. It's a landscape DL card topped with a black panel onto which I stamped Leaf Spray and Wild Poppies using Versamark then brushed green mica powder onto the grasses, covering the Poppies loosely with a tissue whilst doing it, then reversing the process to add the red. Some white Posca dots, cord and a stamped envie.

We're edging forward to 1st April when all will be revealed!

Spring Hellebore and Poppies

Morning Peeps, it's mid month inspiration time at Stamping Sensations and We Love Stamping challenges where we have Spring themes along with the usual Anything Goes. We have prizes from Buddly Crafts and Lisa Horton crafts.

Above a tag using AALL and Create Tag it Yourself (27). The bloom is A&C Hellebore (1063) and a little squirrel, both stamped onto offcuts and cut out. The trellis is from Spellbinders and the sentiment stamped onto another snippet and heat embossed with detail white. I am popping over to the Snippets Playground with this one as there were lots of snippets, although I don't have a photo of them, so maybe a spell in the naughty corner? Ellie had a new challenge where she would like to see Anything from the Garden, we have both Hellebore and Squirrels so this should fit the brief.

This one uses one of my many Penny Black Poppy stamps, this one Spontaneous Joy (40-597) inked direct to stamp with Ecoline brush pens and stamped onto an oxide background. The die frame is I think JND but no longer have the packing. One of my own sentiments.

Another gently hint to keep your eyes open for news of a new challenge, can say no more until 1st April.