Happy New Year and a few favourites

So here we are approaching 2020. I am looking forward to starting the new year with crafting, karate, walking, cooking and enjoying nature at the top of my list of things to do.  I thought I would take the opportunity to share a few of my favourite crafty projects with you. It is a very quick and randomly selected top ten, that If I looked again I would probably change, lol.

 First up is one of my favourite Inkylicious tree stamps and that XL spatter,

 Next is a tree from Bee Crafty and that gorgeous sentiment. I made this after a walk in the woods when I'd decided that I was going to resign, so holds a special place in my heart!

 I invested in many hare stamps this year, but this was my first and I loved how well it worked on that background.

 More inkylicious stamps on this one. The wolves are great for male cards.

 This was my first foray into candle decorating, which ultimately led to joining Crafty individuals DT and craft fairs and tables, sales and lots of fun!  

 I've enjoyed having the time to work on my colouring skills, like this 'no-line' Hobby Art christmas wreath coloured with zig clean colour real brush markers.

 Whilst we are on the subject of Hobby Art, this little owl had to be on here somewhere. He flew off to a friend in Japan, and is going to be framed. A little owl is not just for Christmas!!! 😂

 My Crafty individuals robin and kingfisher candles were popular too.

 Here's more of my favourite inkylicious stamps on Meg's christmas card,

and finally this is the plaque I made for my lovely friend Lynne (we met in about 2002 or 3 when we taught together...I think we were boh dragons, lol!)
Thank you all for your continued crafty friendships and support.  I really appreciate each and every one of your comments and I look forward to visiting you all in 2020 to see more of your wonderful creations.
                                   Happy New Year! 

I did it and an entry for Allsorts

                    

Yesterday was Black Belt grading for our Karate club. There were students attending from Hull, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby and further north too. It lasted 3 hours and divided roughly into 3 sections: Combinations, Kata  and Kumite. I am very happy to say that not only did I survive, but I was awarded my Shodan Ho black belt at the end of it.

There were 5 of us going for our first black belt from our local class (four pictured above). We all made the grade and passed. I was very grateful to be cheered on by my hubby, daughter and partner and my niece. It wasn't very warm in there if you were sitting down or not moving about!

Meg had my camera and was able to take a few action shots. As you can see, I wasn't getting cold or sitting down 😆

Here I am bowing to our Sensei, receiving my belt and certificate. Edit: I am 4ft 11" and he is 6ft 8"

My lovely niece had bought me a present which she gave me...

Today is a very laid-back day. I have paid a brief visit to one of my training buddies dojos to take her a little gift to say thanks for her support. Other than that I am chilling, watching the squirrels in the garden and contemplating what is left to do for Christmas besides baking.
I can certainly find the time to enter a card at Allsorts this week where the theme is Anything goes. I am sharing the Christmas card I made for Meg. It is one of my usual Inkylicious scenes featuring some of my favourite stamps. I used my ink dusters and a mixture of Distress inks and Memento inks. The tree and deer were stamped in versafine Clair.

Thanks for looking and I hope your Christmas preparations are going very well. If I don't manage to pop in again before the big day,  have a wonderful Christmas!

Mid month inspiration for Stamping Sensations and a digi from Dora

Good Morning! Here is my mid month inspiration for Stamping Sensations where the theme is 'Anything Goes'. the background was made with distress oxides and shimmer sprays. I added the moon (which could have been rounder!) with gesso and a little starlights paint. Next, I stamped the owl and branch on watercolour paper, colouring with zig real brush pens. Then I added a bit of fluffy puffy stuff (inkylicious) to the branch before cutting both out. I stamped the trees and snowflakes onto the background then added the owl and branch with 3d glue gel. I glazed the owl's eyes and beak with translucent nuvo drops. All stamps are from Hobby Art.

I'm also adding my DT card made with a beautiful poinsettia digi from Dora's blog. I printed it onto recycled card and coloured with zig clean colour real brush markers. You can find Dora's digis here 
It is ten days since my last post.  My spare time this week has been mostly devoted to Karate (71/2 hours altogether since Friday!) as I approach my Black Belt grading. Wish me luck! I will let you know if I pass.
Thanks for looking!

Exciting News!

I've been desperate to tell you my news! On Thursday I was just trying to decide which of the new Crafty Individuals stamps I needed to get when Jean contacted me and asked me to join the Design Team! Needless to say I said yes please! I've been a big fan of CI stamps for many years, and feel honoured that Jean asked me. We have both become addicted to candle decorating recently and so it seemed only fitting that my first post after joining the DT are candles.

 My first candle was decorated with CI-510, the beautiful Kingfisher from Maria Kitano

 My second candle used CI-507, the perching bird stamp, which I coloured as a robin.

Here are the two of them together. If you didn't see Jean's Hochanda shows last week, do try and watch them on Catch-up. They are very inspirational!
Also there is a wonderful new Crafty Individuals Facebook group which is full of fabulous inspiration, tips and techniques. Check it out here.
Thanks for looking and for all your lovely comments.

The craft fair and a gift

On Sunday I had a stall with my lovely friend Lynne at the little garden centre at our local park. I thought you might like to see some photos of the stall.

Lynne makes beaded jewellery and her earrings and bracelets are so beautiful.

  

We had a lovely time chatting and people and dog watching. There were some lovely pooches who came in after their run around the park so their owners could warm up and browse with a cuppa. There were some lovely customers too.

There is a glimpse of my Christmas Gift at the top of this photo. Here is a better photo of it.

I've made 3 of these since July, one hanging one and two on stands. This one is now going to be a gift for a former colleague for Christmas, lol. I used the Pink ink dragon and the bee crafty sentiment and mdf. I made the first back in August and shared it on Pink inkers facebook page, and am happy to say that Pink ink workshops use mdf from Bee Crafty now 😁.
As this is a Christmas Gift, I am entering it at Allsorts this week, as that is their theme. I am also going to enter it at Try it on Tuesday, where the theme is 'inspired by a song or carol'. My Song would be 'Puff the Magic Dragon'.
Thanks so much for all the positive vibes, as they certainly worked. Our takings amounted to more than the years insurance, the table fee and left me with a little spending money too. We are very grateful to all of the lovely customers who bought our work and the lovely comments we received. It was a great day.
Thanks for looking x

December at Stamping Sensations

 It is the first Sunday of the month and time for our December challenge at Stamping Sensations. This month we have a lovely easy theme, perfect for this time of year....

****Anything Goes****

My cards this month were made with a woodware stamp. I stamped and paper-pieced them all. The first and second were made with a cheap and cheerful paper Addicts pad called Yuletide Wishes that I picked up in 'The Works'. 

For my third card, I embossed the base card and added a die cut snowflake border, also from The Works. The blue and gold paper was left over from an inky mica spray session a while ago.

   

Please can I remind you we are a stamping challenge so must see a stamped image which reflects the theme as the focal element of your artwork , this means:

Stamping must be the central point of attention and interest

Our prize this month is A £25 voucher to spend at Be Creative!   Do pop over to the challenge blog and take a look at the fabulous creations from my talented team mates and more details of that great prize! Thanks for looking!  
About an hour after this post goes live I will be setting up for our local craft fair (just round the corner) and hoping to sell lots of cards, candles and MDF. If you are near Nottingham, I will be at Woodthorpe Park Plant Shop in the green houses from 10 am to 4pm today. Pop and see me and say hello!