It's all sentimental at Allsorts

Hello everyone and hope you all have good plans for the weekend.

Today sees a brand new challenge starting over on the Allsorts challenge blog.
This week is the turn of Brenda and the theme chosen is:

"It's all in the Message"

(a sentiment or quote as a focal element)

Please pop over to the challenge blog here and see the wonderful creations from the Design team. We would also love it if you would join in with this weeks challenge

We are being sponsored this week by Nicecrane Designs.

For my card I have used:
Sentiment - Inkylicious
Distress inks- spiced marmalade, Mustard seed, Dried marigold
Leaves - studio 490 stamps

I am entering this card into:
Stampin for the Weekend challenge - colours of summer

Thanks for stopping by and visiting today. See you again soon

x Catherine

Acetate at Allsorts

Hello everyone. I am back now from my holiday in London and I had a really good time. Most days the weather was beautiful with just one day of rain!! It was great to be back in the city and lots of sight seeing to be done.

However I apologise for being a bit late with this post this week as internet connection failed me drastically.

 

This post is for the current challenge over at Allsorts this week and is the turn of Helene to host this one.

The theme chosen is:

"USE ACETATE"

 

Please pop over to the challenge blog here and see the fabulous work from the Design Team.

 

We are being sponsored this week by:

                                                  

                                                                          and

 

 

As I have collected a lot of things on my travels I have made a journal to keep them all in. The very front cover of this journal is a piece of acetate which I have used black Staz-on ink and stamped some corners and the "postcard" sentiment on to. I have also placed inside it some acetate tags for photos. Unfortunately acetate isn't the easiest thing for me to photograph without a massive shine appearing!!!I hope you will get a picture of what is here!!

 

Well I am going now to visit you all although I have missed a bit so it may take me some time!!!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting me and see you all soon

x Catherine

Enjoy the Journey

Hello everyone and hope your week is going ok.



I have recently been enjoying using some brighter colours in my crafting but there is always room on my craft desk for a bit of grunge and brown.

There is a lot going on in this card but really enjoyed making it. I have used a great sketch from Sketchy Colors for this one:

I have used distress inks(old paper, tea dye, vintage photo, walnut stain, brushed courdroy)

I have also used stamps from Stamper's Anonymous and Indigo Blu.

The photo wheel is a Tim Holtz Die.

This card is for the following challenges:

Sketchy Colors challenge#174:sketch

Addicted to Stamps challenge#62 +dt call - Shabby/Vintage

Creatalicious challenge#54 - For the Boys

Thanks for stopping by and visiting today

See you again soon

x Catherine

Watercolouring Sunflowers

Hello everyone and hope your all well and have good plans for the week.

This sunflower stamp is from Indigo Blu and ever since I bought it I thought I would like to try it with distress inks and a watercolour technique. I used distress inks(Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Crushed Olive and Vintage Photo) I am really pleased with the way it has turned out and would love to know what you think. It is my attempt here at being a little "Arty" although the inks do most of the work for you!!!

I have used the sketch from The Sweet Stop for this one and as you can see I have rotated it on it's side. My sunflower image was bigger than I thought!!!:

I am really enjoying making my own backgrounds and all the possibilities with stencils.

This card is for the following challenges:

The Sweet Stop  sketches challenge SSS224- sketch with a spin and prize- Sunflowers
It's All About the Vintage challenge #50 - Summer Flowers
Craft Your Passion challenge #176- Summer Flowers

Thanks for stopping by and leaving me your lovely comments. I appreciate all of them.
See you soon

x Catherine

Down By The Sea

Hello everyone and here I am for my second post today before I go away tomorrow. Please scroll down for my earlier DT post for Sunday Sketch and Stamp this week.

I have used a stamp set I bought a while ago from Artistic Outpost and ashamed to have not used it yet!! Today is it's first outing for me.

I have used the current sketch from Sketch Saturday for this one:

The image and quotes are all from the set. I have used distress inks(Squeezed lemonade and Salty Ocean)which are a firm favourite colour combo for me.
I had some fish charms in my box so thought they would be a great little embellishment to finish the card.

This card is for the following challenges:

Sketch Saturday challenge #272- sketch
Crafts Too challenge you- Summer Days Week 3- with beach colours
Crafts 4 Eternity challenge R#137- summer sun
Anything Goes challenge #99 -By The Sea 
Frilly and Funkie challenge - By The Seaside
Totally Papercrafts challenge - Favourite colours(Yellow and Blue)
Fab'n'Funky challenge #181- Anything that looks like Summer
Challenges 4 everybody challenge#27 - Anything goes


Thanks for stopping by and visiting. I shall try and keep in touch over the next week(internet permitting!) but not as much crafting as I am too busy sight-seeing the wonderful sights of the city.
See you soon

x catherine

Believe

Hello everyone and hope your weekend is going well. Still busy packing for tomorrows trip away to London.

It is the start of a brand new challenge at Sunday Sketch and Stamp this week a brand new sketch for you to use chosen by Francesca.

 

We would love you to join in with us and please pop over here to the challenge blog and see the fabulous DT projects.

 

I am trying to get a little organised and chose to do a xmas card with this weeks sketch. The stamp is my all time favourite from Stampers Anonymous and I have used distress inks(Fired Brick, Wild Honey and Vintage Photo).

I have also added some die cut leaves from Co-ordinations and sanded them down. There is also one of the metal charms -( Imagine) for embellishment.

 

Thanks for stopping by and visiting and will be back after my holidays

See you soon

x Catherine

Especially For You

Hello again everyone and my second post for today. I am going to be busy this weekend as I am going to London on Monday for a weeks break and my annual sight-seeing trip. I just love all the history in the place .

 

Anyway I digress and the reason for today is of course Saturday and a brand new challenge has started over at the Allsorts challenge blog. This week it is the turn of the lovely Jo and the theme  chosen is:

"Use Your Latest Crafting Buy"

 

Please pop over to the challenge blog here and see the fabulous projects from the Design Team.

 

We are being sponsored this week by:



 

and

 

 

Now my latest crafting buy has been this new stamp from La Blanche. If you follow me you will know that I love these stamps and such beautiful detail in them. I have used distress inks(Peacock Feathers and Dusty Concord). I have used the branch stamp from Inkylicious in the background too.

 

 

We do hope you will join in with this weeks challenge and looking forward to visiting your blogs and seeing your latest crafting buys.

 

Thanks for stopping by and visiting.

See you soon

x Catherine

Bold and Beautiful

Hello everyone and the start of another weekend. Hope you all have some good plans for it.

Today sees a new challenge starting over at Sweet Stampin challenge blog and this week the theme is:

"Bold and Beautiful"

 

We are being sponsored by:

and:

 

 

 

Please pop over to the challenge blog here and see the fabulous projects from the Design Team.

 

 

Now on with the sunglasses for my card!! . This is a beautiful stamp from Inkylicious and I have used distress inks(Squeezed Lemonade and Spiced Marmalade). I stamped the butterfly twice and layered it for dimension.

I am entering this card into the following challenge :
Stampin For The weekend challenge - butterflies

 

 

Hope you will join in with us this week and will look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing how Bright and Bold you can go!!!

 

Thanks for stopping by and visiting.

See you soon

x Catherine

All Red Now

Hello everyone and back for a second post today. please scroll down for my earlier one.
Now here is a colour you don't see me use that often!! I do like to come out of my challenge zone occasionally and challenge myself with something a little different.
I have stuck to using my distress inks as it's something I am comfortable with using.
I used Fired Brick, Barn Door and Aged Mahogany for this one.(although it looks pale in the middle panel it is aged mahogany but has been spritzed a number of times)
Again the image is a La Blanche stamp which I have had for a long time in my box and trying to use them all again.

I have used the sketch from Sketch'n'Stash for this one:

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Sketch'n'Stash challenge #119- sketch
Creative Inspirations challenge #227 - Monochromatic
Simon Wednesday Challenge - Monochromatic
Rhedd and Rosie challenge 13 - Use Red
Make It Monday #153 with StampArt designs by Kathryn - link up

Thanks for visiting and see you soon

x Catherine

Roses

Hello everyone and hope your week is going well. It's nice and dry up here in North Yorkshire today.

This is a stamp from la Blanche and I love this big rose. Such lovely detail to it.
the distress inks I used were - Peacock Feathers and Mustard Seed. I have added Twine instead of ribbon for a more natural garden look.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Tuesday Morning Sketches #211-sketch
Craft Your Passion challenge#175 - Don't get your Twine in a Tangle!
Make It Monday# 153with StampArt Designs with Kathryne- Link up

Thanks for stopping by and visiting today and see you again soon

x Catherine

Butterfly

Hello everyone and here's to the start of a new week. Well we are half way through the summer holidays now and have a busy next couple of them.

I have used a stamp from Papermania of the butterflies and the branch stamp from Inkylicious for the border strip. The distress inks used were: Broken China, Crushed Olive, peeled Paint, mustard Seed and Forest Moss).Some stencilling in the background piece.

I have used the following sketch from The Sweet Stop challenge:

 I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafts 4 Eternity challenge R#136 -Colour Recipe - Corrosion(TOP 3 SPOT)
The Sweet Stop challenge SSS223- August 10th(SPOTLIGHT SPOT)
Make It Monday#153 with StampArt designs by Kathryne- Link up

Hope you all have a good week and thanks for visiting today.
See you again soon

x Catherine 

Hello My Friend

Hello everyone and hope your all enjoying your weekend. Weather is a bit cooler but it is dry.

The main image of the birds is a stamp from Inkylicious and distress inks used were(Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint and Worn Lipstick). A few stencils were used on the background piece.

I am entering the following challenges with this card:

Sketchy Colors challenge #173- Green, White and Pink
Sketch Saturday challenge#271 - sketch
One Stop Craft Challenge # 238- pastel colours
Fussy and fancy Friday challenge#95 - Bingo(Green, Free, Ribbon)

thanks for stopping by and visiting today.
see you again soon

x Catherine

Stitching at Allsorts challenge

Good morning everyone and welcome to the start of another weekend. It's Saturday so that means another brand new challenge is starting over at the Allsorts challenge blog today.

Now this weeks challenge is being hosted by ME and I have chosen the theme:

Stitching(real or Faux)

 

I know this is a popular theme among crafters and hope you will all pop over here and join in with us.

 

Please pop over and see the wonderful inspiration from the Design team.

 

We are being sponsored this week by:



and

 

My card use a Justrite stamp as many of you will know I just love these big stamps. I have chosen a vintage theme and layered the image for dimension. I added some faux stitching on to mine.

 

I am entering the following challenges with this card:

 

Charisma Cardz challenge #31- stitching (Faux or real)

Stamp'n'Doodle challenge 7th August - Anything goes

It's all about the vintage challenge #49 - Haberdashery

ABC challenge - S for stitching

 

 

Thanks for visiting my blog today and see you soon

x Catherine



Tim's tags August 2013

Hello everyone. Have some time to myself today as everyone is of the cinema for the afternoon. Must use this free time wisely I think!

Over at Tim Holtz blog this month is the Tags for August. I was so excited when I saw these as this is what drew me to the whole thing of the distress world and how well these inks create that old style of look.
I have made a card instead of a tag as this lends itself so well for a male card.
The whole card image apart from the ticket and sentiment is one layer with lots of masking and this is a favourite stamp set of mine.

This is for the challenges:
Tim Holtz Blog - 12 Tags of 2013 - August
Make it Monday #152 with CC Designs - Link up

Thanks for visiting my blog today and hope everyone is well
See you soon

x Catherine

Butterfly dreams

Hello everyone and hope your all having a good week. The weather seems to be a bit better again here and dry.

A old favourtite stamp of mine as many of my followers will know using the butterflies. Distress inks I have used were(Peeled Paint, Broken China, Wild Honey, Vintage Photo). I have used the clock mask in the middle panel section. I have used a Dylusions stencil in the background.

The sentiment is from a Studio 490 set of stamps which are very new to me..

This card is for the following challenges:
Sketchy Colors challenge #172- sketch(TOP 4 SPOT)
Creative Inspirations challenge 226- Something Old and Something New(old Butterfly stamps, new sentiment stamp)
Papertake Weekly challenge - Anything Goes
Loves Rubberstamps challenge #64- Anything Goes
Make It Monday #152 with CC Designs - Link Party

Thanks  for stopping by and visiting me today.
see you soon

x Catherine

From me To You

Hello again everyone. well it is nice and clear here today and so far no rain! Hope it stays like that.

I have used a stamp here from Flonzcraft of the birds. I have also used a tree background stamp from Inkylicious. The leaves are spellbinders dies. Distress inks used were : Vintage Photo, Crushed Olive, Walnut Stain and Tea Dye.

This card is for the following challenges:
Stamping Sensations challenge August- Wings and Things and a touch of Vintage(Top 3 Spot)
Love To Create challenge #77 - sketch
Addicted To Stamps challenge#61 - Wonderful Wings
Make It Monday#152 with CC Designs - link party

Hope your all having a good week and thanks for visiting today.
see you soon

x Catherine

Voyage

Hello everyone and here's to the start of a rainy week here. it rained all day yesterday and again now.

I have used the JustRite stamp for this one. I feel it's such a big image it tends to lend itself to making a card all on it's own.
I tried something a bit different and stamped it three times reducing the size of each panel .
I did emboss the image and find it so hard to reduce the shine on the camera so hope it doesn't gleam too much!!!

This card is for the following challenges:

Sketch Saturday challenge#270:sketch
Craft Your passion challenge 174 - All At Sea
Challenges 4 Everybody challenge#26 - Anything goes
Crafty Calender challenge( august) - Anything goes
Rhedd and Rosie challenge 12 - Time
Make It Monday #152with CC Designs - Link up

Thanks for stopping by and visiting today. See you soon

x Catherine

Sunday, Sketch and Stamp

Hello everyone and hope your all having a good weekend. Although with the school holidays I am so lost with the days - everyday feels the same!!!

Today there is a new sketch over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp and this one is done by ME.



I hope you will pop over here to the challenge blog and come and join us this week.

I have used a stamp from Inkylicious for both the birds image and tree branches background panel. The leaves are from a Studio 490 set and I love these stamps.
A metal frame embellishment and some background stamping of course all done with distress inks.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting and I would love to see what you come up with from my sketch if you join us.
See you soon

x Catherine

By The sea/Ocean

Hello and I am back again. Please scroll down for my earlier post today!.

Today is the start of a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin and this week the theme is:

 

"By The Sea/Ocean"

 

Please pop over to the challenge blog here to check out the fabulous work from the DT. We would love you to join in with us and see your projects for this one.

 

We are being sponsored this week by:

 

 

I have used the liner stamp image from Stamper's Anonymous and also a stamp image of the Gentlemen from Crafty Individuals. I think they both work very well together.

 

Thanks for stopping by and see you soon

x Catherine

 

Live, Laugh, Love

 

 

 

 

Hello everyone and today is the start of a brand new challenge over at Allsorts. This week it is the turn of Tracy and she has given us a Photo Inspiration for this one:

We would love to see the projects you will create with this.

Please pop over to the challenge blog here to see the wonderful projects from the DT.

We are being sponsored this week by:



 

and

 

I have choose to use Blue and Purple and a stamp from La Blanche of the Girls Face. This is the first time I have used this stamp and was impressed with how it looked.

I have added other stamped images with it.

 

Hope you all have a good weekend and thanks for visiting today. See you soon

x Catherine

 



Clouds!!!

Hello everyone. the sun and heat are appearing back here again. It is really warm!! Not complaining though.

This card was a bit of a challenge for me. I have never created clouds on a background before so took a few goes but I was pleased with the outcome. However by the time I put everything else on the card they seem to have got a bit lost!! The camera never picks up either but I hope you can see them!
It was nice to try something different for a change.
I used distress inks and a Stamper's Anonymous stamp set.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenge:

Charisma Cardz challenge #30-Up In The Clouds
Make It Monday #151 - with Meljen's Design - linky party

Thanks for stopping by and see you soon

x Catherine

Believe in The Magic

Hello everyone and hope your all ok. I haven't been around much lately and admit to a major mojo walkabout!!! School holidays always take up a lot of spare time too.
I manage to grab a few hours and trying to dip back in again used a new La Blanche stamp. I really love this one and it is perfect for Christmas cards.
I have used distress inks and the pen nibs to colour the image. I love the subtle tones you get using these.
I have added some vellum flowers for embellishments. I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Creative Inspirations challenge 225- Anything goes and I have used the optional sketch
Simon Says stamp Wednesday challenge - Anything goes
Stamp'n'Doodle challenge 31st July - Christmas comes early
Addicted to Stamps challenge #60 - Lots of Layers
Crafting For All seasons challenge#57-Christmas In July
Make It Monday #151 - with Meljen's Designs- Linky Party

It's been a bit cooler here lately and quite some rain. however I think it is supposed to be getting warm again today!!
Thanks for stopping by and I really appreciate it. Would love to know what you think of my card!
See you soon

x Catherine