Noel

Sometimes I try new techniques or products and discover that my efforts look dreadful! However, I don't always just bin the results, I feel that somehow they may come in useful. Once upon a time I think I tried to do the technique where you dip a piece of string into some acrylic paint, drop it onto a piece of card, cover with another piece of card, then drag it out between the two! Well the result looked evil, but I kept the card nevertheless.

Here is that piece of card which I decided to cut the pine branches from!

The corner which is missing, was the part of the card from which I cut the sentiment... I wanted it to match the white of the berries. You can see that the overall effect of the acrylics is awful, but I think that the branches look really good!

It's my DT card for  Christmas Craft Creations where the theme is to use a die cut!

I have been fascinated by die cutting from the first time I saw it demonstrated many years ago and my shelf is groaning with the weight of my supplies... I think all the magnetic sheets have a lot to do with that however!

Do join in the fun and get all the pressure of making last minute Christmas cards off your shoulders!

Stay Safe everyone!

Count on me

I was delighted to find this free download of friendly frogs! I had tried drawing some myself but was singularly unsuccessful, so was delighted to find these. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp. I simply cut out the frog which I had coloured with alcohol pens and popped him onto some dimensional dots.

It is my DT card for Perfectly CAS which as you can see is Animals this time.

Recently my time has been spent reacquainting myself with  my sewing machine. I started making scrubs as there is a real need at the moment amongst many health workers. The first set I made was from some fabric I had stored away, plus a bed valance which was no longer used.

I ordered some fabric online and once that arrived I began making some with that.

Since then I have made a few more and they will all be going to my son's practice in Worthing. As a GP, he hasn't had to wear scrubs for many years, in fact not since he was a newly qualified doctor working in hospital, but due to the situation at the moment everything has changed, hence his need for scrubs.

We are lucky to have our hobby of crafting to keep us occupied during lockdown, so do stay safe everyone!

Gesso Resist

Have you ever purchased some crafty product that you thought you should have... and you would use... but never have?

Gesso is one such item in my case. I had to dig deep to find it and then hope that it was still workable. I don't believe that I have ever used it before, but thanks to the gals at CAS Mix Up, I have been urged to get on and have a go!

I began with a stencil from Marianne Designs and applied some Gesso though it with a piece of sponge. When dry I applied some Distress Ink over the stencilling using a sponge dauber.  Following this I stamped some random spots using stamps from SU's French Foliage, long retired but one of my favourite 'go to' sets.

The die cuts by Alexandra Renke, were also coloured with DIs and a tiny smear of gold ink was added to the edges. The sentiment is from Clearly Besotted.

These CAS challenges from Loll, Bonnie and the girls help me to produce some of my best work. I feel inspired to use different products or techniques to produce my submissions for their challenges.. and for that I thank them all most sincerely!

I must try technique this again, that's for certain!

Be merry

I guess Christmas does seem a long time away, but getting cards done in plenty of time does save a lot of frustration by the time November arrives and posting deadlines are approaching.

Here is my DT card for the challenge at Happy Little Stampers

As ever it is anything Goes but you may choose to do the optional extra which this time is 'Ornaments'.

Last year my daughter treated me to a Wreath Making session at a florist in Bath. We had great fun and I put my 'ornament' on my front door with pride. Here is a card version of a wreath  'ornament'.

I don't remember the make of this die, I think it may be an Alexandra Renke, but I'm not too sure I think the sentiment is Penny Black... I can't find the packaging!

Take Care and stay safe!

Smile

I think this frog is a real cutie., I got him from a download of colouring page images, free for personal use. He's simply coloured with alcohol pens and popped onto dimensional pads. I have three large 'smile ' word dies and I think this one is from Creative Cuts.

I love the flow of this one!The challenge this time at Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge is SMILE!

We could all do with a smile at this present time... so consider this one for you!