Where did the Summer go?

Well I almost feel embarrassed at how lax I've been and how long it is since I posted anything.  Today is not going to be any different either but at least I have 5 minutes to myself.

I spent most of May and June and a week in July invigilating exams at the local school - I think I did 60 exams in 7 weeks.  Very tiring on the feet and whilst you are not doing much, by the time I got home I ate then fell asleep.   We did manage a week in Somerset visiting the sites, gardens and the coast, drinking cider and eating cheddar.

As soon as the exams finished my dad ended up in hospital so that involved trips north.  After 4 weeks he managed to get out and we joined him to celebrate his 93rd birthday and my parents' 70th wedding anniversary.  A day later both my parents fell over and were both taken to hospital.

That's why my blog has been left unattended, I haven't had chance to make anything, join in any challenges and if I've missed commenting on your blog posts then I apologise but sometimes life gets in the way.  Hopefully things will quieten down and I will feel more creative again.....one day!!

Elaine xx

Number Games

Over on the UK Stampers Forum on Facebook there are lots of new challenges for April.  I like doing the ATCs and Inchies. 

The theme for the ATCs was Numbers so I've gone for Dominoes, Bingo and Cribbage.  I've used some Maya Road Mini Bingo stamps and stencilled the backgrounds using Andy Skinners Industrial Elements Stencil.   The dominoes and mini playing cards came in crackers which I squirrel away for just these occasions.  Having thought about it there is not much stamping but ........

The Inchie challenge is Anything Goes but having found these cute Mini Bingo stamps from Maya Road I thought I'd use them for my Inchies.  In my quest to use up ink sprayed card in my bit box I dug out 6 different colours and 6 ink pads and went for it!!  

Hope you like my makes this April.  If you have a spare hour or two why not have a go and join in the Challenges!

Elaine xx

Crocus - Sign of Spring

After being in school for 2 weeks doing mock exams I've at last had chance to get my Inchies and ATCs done for the UK Stampers Forum on Facebook.   There are lots of other swaps you can join in but these are the ones I enjoy doing.

I started by spraying A4 card with Citrus Lime and Bramley Apple spray inks and added a sprinkling of Emerald and Leaf Green Brushos.   For the set of 6 Inchies I cut the squares and added some gold embossed Spring Flowers. The daffodils were free with a magazine, the tulips part of a Stampendous stamp and the crocus are from an old Elusive Images/Chocolate Baroque set.

 

The ATCs were again cut from the sprayed brusho background and then stamped using various stamps from the Crocus set from Elusive Images/Chocolate Baroque.   I've just added more colour with Tombow Brush Pens and printed out Spring quotes.

 

It was good of you to visit and thanks for leaving a comment.  Lets just hope we don't get too much snow this weekend and the Spring flowers can flourish!

 

Elaine xx

 

 

Mini Doodling Album

Here's a stamped mini doodling book I made and have entered it in the Mini Album Makers Challenge where the theme for March is Anything Goes as long as it is a completed album.  In a way this is not a completed album as it is designed to be zentangled, doodled or coloured by the recipient, but it is fastened together so hope it counts!!

The completed album is 4" square made from 3 double-sided sections of 4" x 8" silver grey card and just fastened together with black twine. 

 

 

  Each page is about 3.5" of white card stamped with Oak House Studio's Double Daisy stamps.

I've just randomly stamped on the white pages and it's up to you how you finish it off.  I've started zentangling in the black and white top daisy, outlined the red one, you can join the flowers and shapes, you can colour the outlined daisies.  It's just a simple little book that you can put in your handbag with a few pens and you can idle that train journey/flight away!!

Hope you like the idea and thanks for visiting.

Elaine xx

February Inchies & ATCs

Well the weather is wet and windy so thought I'd get on with my Inchies and ATCs for the UK Stampers Forum Challenge on Facebook.

The theme for the Inchies is Anything Goes so I got out my Inkadinkadoo Special Thoughts stamps and chose 3 that seemed to go.  They are stamped using Onyx Black Versafine and clear embossed on some pale blue sprayed card.  I do challenges to try and use stuff up but even with 6 of them, they don't make much of a difference to my scrap box!!   Anyway I've just blended on a little Wilted Violet Distress Inks to enhance the colour.

For the ATCs the theme is Hearts/Love so I got out my reds and entitled them the Music of Love.  The backgrounds are a swooshy mix of Fired Brick,  Barn Door and Pickled Raspberry overstamped with a Music stamp in Vermillion Archival.  The Walesby Hearts are from Oak House Studio and I've just added some ribbons and typed words.   It wasn't until I did the third did I realise maybe I should check the musical notes.....guess what, the first one I did is upside down!!

Hope you like and thanks for visiting.  If you've left a comment, then my thanks once again!!

Elaine xx

Jewellery for January

Hello there!   Not been getting inky and messy today but keeping clean and making some new necklaces which are all available in my Kettle Courtyard shop on Etsy.  The quickest way to get there is by clicking the photo in my side bar.

Amethyst and Ultraviolet Pearls

Pantone's colour of the year is Ultraviolet and who doesn't love a good deep purple.  Also Amethysts are the birthstone for February which will be here soon!!

 

Turquoise Spike Necklace

 

I've had these Turquoise Spike beads for a while but I was just waiting to find the right Sterling Silver chain to hang them from - this has a lovely diamond design.

 

 

Cobalt Blue Swirl Lampwork Bead Necklace

 

I love these Cobalt Blue lampwork beads - they have so many different colours in them.   I've added them to a curved bar and hung from a Sterling Silver chain.

 

 

Haven't decided what to make next but I'm thinking it'll involve Black Pearls and Emerald Crystals.

Watch this space!!

 

Elaine xx

January Inchies & ATCs

Happy New Year to you all.

Bit of a slow start to the year but I'm hoping to find some new challenges to do and get some crafting done.  Firstly I've made my 6 Inchies for the UK Stampers Forum on Facebook - the theme is Anything Goes.

I've just inked through Tim Holtz's Holiday Knits Stencil for the backgrounds and stamped as many small words as I could find out of my stash!

I've also made my 3 ATCs - the theme is The Elements, so Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.  For the Earth one I've used a Hero Arts Vintage Map stamp,   the Kite in the Wind is an Oak House Studio stamp and the Lighthouse surrounded by Water is a Crafty Individuals Stamp.  I've just added typed words from songs except for the Map one where I struggled to find a good song. 

Anyway thanks for visiting and for your comments.  If you know of any good challenges, please let me know!

Elaine xx