Butterflies and Flowers

I've had a Saturday at home, alternating between doing washing and house work and card making- Guess which I prefered?!!! The first card uses a stamp by The Artful Stamper, and it's another I use quite alot. I coloured it using my watercolour pencils and added a bit of Diamond Stickles.

My second card is copied from one of Lynne's on Creative Lynks. Thanks for not minding Lynne! The stamps on the base card and the stamps on the larger circle are from Graphicus. The Cuttlebug got lots of use on this one!

Finally I used the Harlequin Rose stamp by Graphicus on some papers from the Artylicious Butterfly Bliss cd. the stamp on the base card is also from that plate. I used a green crayon to give the leaves a hint of colour for contrast.

Crafty Individuals ATC swap

Here are the beautiful ATCs I recieved in the Crafty Individuals Competition and swap. They are (top row, left to right):
Beauty Remembered by Lynne Kirton, Dancing Lessons by J. Anderson, Nature Pink and Green by J. Anderson
Bottom Row: The wren by Bille, Nature by Helen Stephenson and Imagine by Chris Rowe.

I love them all. Thanks Crafty Individuals for organising it and thanks to the artists of my Swaps. You are all winners to me!

A bit more spring

I've been playing with my Graphicus Arboretum plate. I wanted to create something that looked a bit like our apple tree when it just starts to flower. I coloured the flowers and leaves with Blonde Moments pearl pigments.

This card uses the cuttlebug, and a magenta stamp that I have used again and again. I coloured it with my watercolour pencils.

A couple of birthday cards.

I sat down to make a card for a colleague's birthday this afternoon. This is the finished article, which I'm pleased with. I used the cuttlebug to cut the nestabilities and emboss the circle. The flowers were from 'A bit more than...' at Edwinstowe and started life looking like this.

I made three flowers from two on the card. The background behind the nestie was stamped using Lavinia Stamps and Peacock Brilliance, using the blue and turquoise parts. Initially I stamped a background using my Versacolour Icicle pad, but it was the wrong shade of blue. I put it on one side, and used it to make this card. All stamps on this one are from Lavinia stamps and I used my 'nesties' again.

Cuttlebug's been out again!

This card uses the 2"x2" mini folders to make a border and the Score board to cover any lines above the embossed image.

Those prima flowers are lovely to give a focus...

The finished article from the one shown at the top.

The stamp is from the Graphicus Harlequin Rose plate.

And finally one coloured with chalks.

More Cuttlebug cards

I've been double embossing again - this one is using the diamond rough and friends forever (combo). It is for my Nephew and his Fiancee who got engaged at the weekend.

This one used the paisley folder and a border from the 'with love' set I think! I finished it off using prima flowers and punched leaves to hide where I didn't quite match it up, lol!

Sketch Saturday Challenge #39

Here is my entry for sketch saturday's challenge. The Stamp is from Little Claire Designs and the papers are from Canon Creative Park. I coloured it with my watercolour pencils and puched the flowers, using tulip paint for the middles.

Blue...

The latest three cards I just made have a distinct blue theme. The first was inspired by something I saw when blog hopping last night, and it is here, on Heart Prints. It involves putting the card through 2 cuttlebug embossing folders, and I love the effect. I coloured it with chalks. The greeting is from Graphicus (Paisley Elephants plate)

With my second card I covered one side of the embossing folder with Brilliance Peacock and then used prima flowers on the bottom edge

This last card uses paper from my Artylicious Butterfly Bliss cd and a graphicus stamp using turquoise gem versamagic - simple, but I love the colours.

Day out in Derbyshire

This is Peveril Castle close to the small town of Castleton in Derbyshire.

We visited it today. The castle is high on the hill overlooking the town and with magnificent views towards Mam Tor, Hollins Cross and Black Tor, not to mention the breathtaking Cavedale. Up on the tops of the hills were a few patches of snow, but down in the Churchyard there were snowdrops - lots of them!

We also visited the Castleton Visitors centre and yes, we did finish off the afternoon in a tea shop!

Brick and Teal Graphicus Challenge

Well, here is my entry for the Graphicus Brick and Teal colour challenge, and I have to say it hasn't been easy! I discarded several attempts saying that isn't brick and that isn't teal! I eventually settled with a mixture of Rust and terracotta for brick and stream adirondack for teal. Stamps are from Butterfly Whimsy plate and Paisley Elephant plate. I also used the paisley cuttlebug embossing folder and Versamark ink pad.

A day in Lincoln

Today we had a lovely day out in Lincoln. We spent the morning looking round the Cathedral. Even on a dull day it is a spectacular sight. Meg took this photo as we arrived. Every corner seems to hold a hidden gem. We were drawn to one of the doorways in the west front which had some incredibly intricate carving to every column (not sure if that is the correct architectural term)

These are just a few of the photos we took just in one doorway!

The pillar that these two carvings were on had a different image in every panel. It was fascinating.

Inside the Cathedral was equally stunning. The stained glass is truly breathtaking.

I particularly enjoyed a quite moment in the cloister, which was like stepping back in time. There was such a sense of tranquility.


We had our lunch in the cathedral's own Cafe, which was extremely tasty and very good value. After lunch we went to the Castle, where we learned about the prison and took a stroll around the castle walls, including up the observatory tower. As someone who really doesn't like heights I was quite proud of myself! With the weather as it was the views were not at their best, but quite atmospheric, with the main Cathedral tower disappearing into the mist. The tower on the right looks all blurry and out of focus. It's sending my eyes all wierd!
We had an hour at the museum and rounded the day off with tea and cakes in a tea room on Steep Hill. Very Nice!

House Mouse Monday Challenge # 25

I've decided to enter my second ever sketch challenge, this time on House Mouse and friends Monday Challenge Blog. I've said in previous posts that I've a real soft spot for these little guys and the sketch and prize are very appealing.

I've used the stamp 'Oh! Happy Days!' featuring Monica, colouring her with watercolour pencils. The papers came free with a magazine several moons ago - I can't remember which, and the brads are from my stash. The stamp prize features a mouse bathing in a cup of marshmallows... let me dream!!!