Stamping Sensations Challenge for March

Good Morning! It is the first Sunday of the Month and time for a new Challenge over at Stamping Sensations! This month's theme is...........

***Close to Nature***

As the title suggests we want to see your projects inspired by the natural world this month..........

 I feel closest to nature when I am out walking in the countryside, so I am sharing the card I made for my Dad's birthday with Hobby Art Stamps (Country Ramble Scene-it set). I water-coloured it with a mixture of Zig clean color markers and aqua markers.

Please can I remind you we are a stamping challenge so must see a stamped image, sentiment or quote as the focal element of your artwork. Conventional rubber/acrylic stamps and digital images are acceptable, but pre-coloured digital images and toppers are not. And please note: if we do not comment on your entry it will be because it does not follow the theme, qualify under our rules, or because we are asked to sign in or provide additional data to comment. We do not want to be rude but we do want to be fair to those who do follow the rules.

 Here is the fabulous prize this month.....



                       
I wish I could enter myself!
Do pop over to the challenge blog and take a look at all the fantastic creations by my lovely teamies. There is some wonderful inspiration again this month! Hope you get the chance to join in and I'll look forward to seeing all your lovely creations!  
Before I go I want to share a photo with you. Last Tuesday I got my accreditation to be a Karate Sensei for GKR! I'm still pinching myself 😀😀😀

Thanks for looking!

Apologies and some photos

My visits to blog land are very few and far between at the moment. So sorry if I haven't managed to visit your blogs. I still have two days at school to go, and have ticked off 4 panto performances, a Christingle, a nativity, a Christmas party, and an awards assembly.  There is chicken pox, winter vomiting virus and a nasty chesty cold going round so I'm thinking of suggesting a whole class nap lasting both days!
I did a bit of Christmas shopping a couple of weekends ago and popped to Rufford Park where there are a few shops selling nice food, warm hats, gifts and books. When I got there I discovered the shop didn't open until 10.30 so I had nearly an hour to kill. I popped back to the car and grabbed my camera (I tend to take it everywhere with me) and set off towards the lake.

 A group of Mallards came running to greet me but quickly lost interest when I had no food for them.

The reflections in the lake of the winter foliage were beautiful...

and the black-headed gulls seemed to be enjoying a the peace and quiet as much as I was.
As I stood watching them I saw a splash in the water, and then another a few minutes later. I trained my camera on it and zoomed in. Please forgive the awful quality of the photo (I will go back soon with a tripod).... It was a kingfisher!

After a few minutes I was joined by a robin, who may well have fed from my hand if I had taken some food - he was so tame that his feathers brushed my elbow as he hopped by.

I realised the shop had been open for a good 20 minutes by this stage and reluctantly continued on my way. Further round the lake I spotted a Goosander (another poor photo I am afraid)

That hour of solitude in the company of nature left me feeling so much happier than Christmas shopping does! I hope your Christmas shopping is done and you are able to enjoy a few minutes peace doing something you love.
Thanks for looking!

Feature a Creature at Allsorts

The theme of Feature a Creature at Allsorts seemed like the perfect opportunity to share a card I made for my friend's son, who turned eighteen last month. I used Lavinia stamps, memento inks and inkylicious ink dusters. There is some fabulous inspiration from the Allsorts DT on their blog.
Short and sweet from me today as I have a mountain of things to do this weekend. I will try and visit blogland a bit more soon.
Thanks for looking!

Another walk in Ploughman's wood

Warning, Photo heavy post! Are you sitting comfortably? Ploughman's Wood is a Wildlife Trusts nature reserve a couple of miles from our house. We sometimes go there just for an hour and a short walk. I know there are Bluebells there, so we made our way with my camera. Here are a few of my photos

 The blackthorn was beautiful on the walk from the road...

 There was a carpet of bluebells as soon as we entered the wood.

 There were also wood anemones in both white...

 and various shades of pink

 We were accompanied by the song of robins, great tits and chiffchaffs.

 We also heard green and spotted woodpeckers

 In some places the wood anemones looked like snow!

 We also saw cowslips,

 primroses...

 and lots of Greater Stitchwort

 I hope you enjoyed joining us on our little walk.
Thanks for looking!

A couple of challenges and more Be Creative products

There are some challenges around at the moment that are right up my street, with Autumn colours at Penny Black and more, and Inspired by nature at Allsorts this week. I am using some more papers and buttons from Be Creative. The paper pad that this sheet comes from has some wonderful nature inspired double sided designs, very suitable for masculine cards. The deer birds and grasses are Inkylicious stamps, and the oval scene was created using Distress inks, memento inks and ink dusters. The leaves are a Joy Crafts die.
If you fancy coming along to have a play with some of the wonderful products from Be Creative, I will be there on Saturday 17th October, and there is also an open day on Friday 16th October. There will be a make and take as well as the chance to test out some products. Sign up for the Once upon a Stamp newsletter for more information.
Thanks for looking!

Dragonflies, Birds and Sunshine!

As it was a better day weather-wise today and Steve had a day off too, we decided to go to Old Moor RSPB reserve for the day. The sun shone for most of the day, and the autumn colours are really beginning to show. I couldn't resist taking a photo of these rosehips by the side of the path. There were loads of berries of all sorts in the hedgerows.

There were lots of common Darters around, and this one was particularly obliging in posing for us to take photos!

It was from the hide at Wath Ings that we saw the most bird-wise, with lapwings and golden plovers by the thousand, dunlins, ruff, common sandpiper and several grey heron too.

 When they all took off it was quite spectacular! We also saw quite a few ducks - teal, shovelers, gadwalls and this one, which is a wigeon.

Finally, I am going to leave you with a photo of the card I made for Lynne's Birthday. I couldn't leave that autumn scene I made on a small card, so I took it off and used an 8"x8", stamping it with the Inkylicious skeleton leaves.

The leaf embellishment is the same stamp, used with versamark and mica powders, then sprayed with water.
I really enjoyed the fresh air on our stroll today, and the sunshine added to the fabulous colours. A real feast for the eyes. Thanks for looking!

What day is it?!

 I've been a bit quiet for a few days. I took Dad to the hospital for his Hip replacement on Thursday. I was up at 4.30 and on the road by 5.30 to get him there for 7am. I saw a barn owl and a pair of roosting buzzards right next to the road, so there was an up side to being on the go at that time! Dad's operation has been successful and he is on the mend, although a little dizzy and nauseous still. If he is okay tomorrow then he will be coming home with his zimmer!  Ever since Thursday I have struggled with knowing what day it is. Yesterday felt like Saturday, and it has thrown me completely!

Anyway, thought I would share a picture of another card made with gelli plate papers. It is the same techniques and same stamp set as the last one I made - Inkylicious Hydrangea stamps, distress inks, distress markers etc. Scroll down to the last post if you want more details.
Before I go the last lot of snow brought  a few more visitors to our garden bird feeders. First was a black cap,

who was in perfect focus until he turned round, lol!
After that we had more Siskins on the feeder at the bottom of the garden, hence the blurriness on this one!

Such pretty birds! As I drove home from the hospital this afternoon the light was so beautiful. A real peach bellini glow and some eggplant clouds. I feel a scene coming on!
Happy  Easter for tomorrow and don't forget to put the clocks forwards tonight!
Thanks for looking!

Inspired by Nature

Well, first of all I'd like to say a big thank you to Fleur at Allsorts - Why? Because this week's theme is right up my street, being inspired by nature. It is also half term, I've just bought some new stamps from Sheena Douglass's little bit sketchy range and have been itching to ink them up! Perfect timing! I've really enjoyed making this one.

I stamped the gorgeous blue tit on branch in Memento and coloured in with promarkers. I coloured over the promarkers with a versamarker and embossed in clear EP. I stamped the green branches in bottle, meadow and juniper Adirondack, then sponged the background using distress inks( Dusty concord, spun glass and shabby shutters) The top of the fir tree (Stampin' up) finished off the bottom edge. The background paper was made with Adirondack inks and shaving brushes (you use a circular motion, as with make-up brushes), then over stamped with the moments text (Hero arts) and the small pine sprigs (Tapestry stamps). This card would also fit the Sir Stampalot challenge, but hurry as there are only three days left! Thanks for looking and for leaving such lovely comments.