New Brushos.....

Hello everyone and thanks for popping by here today.

A new craft product for me - new Brusho colours-well they just had to be tried now!!!!

I have used colours-Lime Green and Yellow Ochre for the background to this card. I sprinkled them over a Crafters workshop stencil and then sprayed a small amount of water on it before I removed the stencil. After drying I then chose an Indigo Blu stamp for the focal image and added my favourite Kaisercraft stamp for the greeting.

I felt the background was so pretty that I didn't want to cover it up with any embellishments.

I am joining in with challenge:

Allsorts challenge - week 396-something new

And leaving this year on "Just A Note" I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year and all the best for 2017.

Catherine

Merry Christmas

Just stopping by to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and hope you all have a lovely time. Thank you all for your visits and I really appreciate them.

x Catherine

A Little Bird Told Me

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by here today. Welcome to my new followers and thank you so much. I hope you enjoy your visits to my blog.

So today I have to go out!!! Yes I know ...it is going to be soooo busy but I have been busy working in Pantomime all week that this is the first chance I have had to finish things before the big day next weekend!

So in preparation of preparing myself ready I thought a little crafting first to destress the mind might be in order.

The challenge over at Allsorts this week has just started and they have given a wonderful Blue Bingo board to play with. This was a great inspiration for this card. 

I have used the Turquoise Brusho powders and a mask from Creative Expressions(poppies mask) for the background flowers.This is a reverse masking as I flipped the mask over with all the wet brushos on.

I didn't want to cover up much of this so I opted for some Black stamping over the top. The stamp set is from Art Journey. I distressed the edges using my Tonic paper distressing tool and then inked them with Mustard Seed distress ink.

I was also very brave and stamped in the inside of the card straight on to the card and crossing my fingers it would work. Yes it did!!!!

I am joining in with challenges:

Allsorts weekly challenge 394/395- Blue BingoDiagonal-(masking, Blue and Yellow, distress the edges)

Crafty Catz challenge #351- Anything Goes

catherine

Just a note...

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by today.

Well to say it has been a stressful day...... I needed some time out in my craft room. It has been a welcome relief and some calmness to life!!!

I am preparing some cards now ready for next year and I don't think you can have too many cards that you just need for no special occassion but just to send to someone .

I prepared a background using yellow and orange Brushos. On another piece of card I used the same Brushos and a large stencil for a print. This was then cut up into three and layered up. I have had this flower stamp for a long time and I love it as a focal piece on it's own. 

This weeks sketch over at Tuesday Morning Sketches was the inspiration for the layout of this card today:

I am joining in with challenges:

Tuesday Morning Sketches challenge -#382

Fab'n'Funky challenge #330- make someone smile

catherine

Happy Birthday

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by here today.

So with being busy at the moment finishing all my christmas crafting, it was nice to take a little time and work on something a bit different. I have a few early year birthdays and would like to get ready for them in advance rather than last minute!!!

I have used a stamp from Sheena Douglass which has been a big favourite for me since I got it. These are such big and bold flowers that they colour so well. i stamped the flower and then having made a mask of the image I repeated the stamp twice more so that they flowers were grouped together.

I then used my Brusho powders and added some water I painted the flowers with Yellow and Orange. 

For the background I used the same Brusho colours and first sprayed through a stencil with water and then sprinkled the powder over. I removed the stencil and then flipped this onto another piece of card for a reverse print. This background is the reverse print from the Crafters Workshop stencil. I used a spare piece of the background to stamp the greeting on.

I love the way the background has worked with the stamped image.

I am joining in with challenges:

Stamping Sensations challenge - December -Floral Fancies

Try It on Tuesdays challenge - celebrate
Creative Moments challenge -Anything goes-December

Enjoy Your Day!!

Catherine

Just Simplicity

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by today.
Now here are two things that feel a bit strange to me again just now!!
It has been so long since I last used my Promarkers-so excuse the plain colouring but I will leave all that shading and blending to all you fabulous crafters who know how to do it Justice!!!!!

Now white space in my journals I just love working with on a page but white space on a card I am struggling abit with. I'm thinking it's not finished but you know there are just some cards where simplicity is the best option for them and the receiver!

I have used a stamped image from Penny Black Transparent stamp set(Christmas Friends)of these two cute robins and their stockings. The sentiment is also a Penny black stamp Set Slapstick from (Kindness)

I am joining in with challenges:
Allsorts challenge blog- week392-CAS
Penny Black Saturday challenge - December-Winter or Christmas
Pixie's Crafty workshop challenge - Snippets playground-week 258

Catherine

Snow Globe

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by here today.
I have been looking through the christmas stamp box again and finding all these wonderful stamps that I haven't used in a while!!
The snowflakes and quote are from Indigo Blu(Here Comes Santa) and the snow globe stamp is from Kraftyhands(Stampography Range).
I have added a random background just slighty of the image with some Turquiose Brusho which I like how it has worked and just adds that nice touch of colour to the card.
It is nice sometimes just to use a stamp in black and let it work on the card for itself.
Of course there would always have to be some sparkle with a snow globe....I have added some Creative Expressions crystal flakes for the trees and some Frosted Lace Stickles for the roofs of the houses.

I am joining in with challenges:
Craft Stamper Take It Make It challenge- December-Snow and Ice
Penny Black and More challenge-December- Black and White plus One(BLUE)
Sweet Stampin challenge- Let it Snow
Indigo Blu challenge - November- Glisten and Sparkle

Catherine

Christmas Baubles

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by here today.

So it is now the first week in December and it will all go so quick now until the big day!!! 

I have been busy trying to finish some christmas decorations and this is a set of baubles which I have just finished making.

I bought a set of 6 clear plastic baubles from a craft shop. I first gave them a coat of gesso so that the paint would have something to stick to over the plastic .

Then I applied some brown acrylic paint and left it to dry. Next came a layer of Americano Weathered Wood and also left to dry. the final coat of paint over the crackles was Fresco Paperartsy -Mermaid.

I sealed them all when dry with some Mod Podge and decorated them with some of the millions of flowers that I have accumulated over the years!!!

The final touch was the adding of the berry and just had to add some distress glitter randomly for frost sparkle.

I love the frosted look that these have and I love how they look on the white tree branches.

I am joining in with challenges:

Creative Inspirations challenge 263- Christmas creations

Country View challenges-December 2016-Christmas

Sparkles Christmas challenge-#71Anything But a card

Creative Artiste Mixed Media challenge 21-Anything Goes

The Mixed Media Monthly challenge#31-Merry and Bright

Catherine

O' Christmas Tree

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by today.

This weeks challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge blog set me thinking about any tree stamps I had in my box. As many of you have come to see it has been a long time since I have made cards so delving into my Christmas stamp box has surprised me in how many Tree stamps I actually have!!!!

I have used some Brushos in a spray bottle and my spritzer to make this background. Using a JustRite stamp set I have stamped three of the trees onto some other sprayed brushos card.

The pine cones and leaves are die cut from a Memory Box die.

I am joining in with challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge-O'Christmas Tree 

Moving Along with The Times challenge-34-Anything Goes with christmas
Pixies Crafty Workshop challenge-week 257-Pixie's Snippets Playground

catherine

Twas the Night Before .....

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by today.

I have had a busy weekend-yesterday I visited the big knitting and Stitching show here in Harrogate. Very busy but lots to see and picked up a few goodies along the way(some new colour Brushos which I am hoping to get to play with next week!!!).

Today was the big clean up before all the decorations start to go up soon.

Anyway todays card is using a Brusho background and lots of stamping. Many of these stamps i have had for so long . The circle greeting is a Lily of The Valley stamp and the main quote and image is from Inkylicious.

I have used some banners from JustRite to add on the sides.

I have used this weeks Sketch from Sketch Saturday for my inspiration:

I am joining in with challenges:

Sketch Saturday challenge-#440

Try it on Tuesday challenge -Layer it Up

Allsorts challenge blog-week 391-Anything Christmas

Sweet Stampin challenge-Got the Blues

Creative Moments challenge-Anything goes

Catherine

Stars...

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by today.

Another christmas card make using a christmas stamp set from Creative Expressions which I have had for so long and the first time I have used it !!

I made a background using Brushos and distress inks and embossed some pine branches in silver(i think you can just see it in the pic!)

I stamped and embossed three starts. I then stamped the greeting in individual pieces so that I could die cut the in circles and place them over the starts.

I am joining in with challenges:

Simon says stamp Monday challenge - Trio Tastic

Simon Says stamp Wednesday challenge - Christmas To Die For

Country View challenges- November-Stars

Catherine

Feeling like a Newbie......

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by today.

So I have made a card and as the title suggests..Feeling like a Newbie!! It has been so long since I made any cards that you should see my desk!!!

I had to take some time thinking what I was doing and chuckling along the way at the mess surrounding me!

I have used a background made with Brushos and stamped using a set from Creative Expressions which I have had for so long. I added some Distress glitter to the front pine cones.

I am joining in with challenges:

The Ribbon Girl November challenge- use any image

Stamping Sensations Challenge-November Christmas Greetings

Penny Black and more challenge - November Anything Christmas
Crafty Creations Challenge- #329Christmas
Christmas at Sweet Stampin challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

x catherine

How Time Flies....

Oh my how time flies..... it's been a while hasn't it !

So today I have been trying to do some college work but hey it got the better of me and so what does one do when plans are not going that good-yep get the journal out and PLAY!!!!!!!

I really did not know where I was going with this at the beginning but trusting my favourite saying-"lets add some layers and take it from there" it took shape and I feel so good at the way it has turned out.
Lots of paints and sprays, some die cut butterflies and rub-ons were my recipe for  "have a moment to yourself!!!"

Thanks for stopping by and visiting me. Hopefully it won't be too long before I return again!

catherine

A Birthday Treat at Ally Pally

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by.
Today I was able to go to the craft show in London at Ally pally for my birthday treat.
London is my favourite city and I just love visiting this place.

I had a really good time at the show and able to catch up with some good friends.
Also there were some good purchases to be made.
I will post pics later in the week of my new stash which I bought.

Tommorrow is also a celebratory day for me and my husband as we celebrate our 24th wedding Anniversary !

Hope you have all had a good weekend and see you soon

catherine

Box of Ruination...

Hello again everyone and here as promised the finished box I have been working on lately.

You will remember in my last post that I had left it at the embellishing stage and last night I knew exactly how I wanted to finish it of.

The lid reminded me of so much patina metal and cast iron that I knew the idea of a cast iron garden would just suit it so well but I didn't want to cover the whole box entirely so decided to just concentrate on one side and allow the corroded effect to still be visible.

Lots of die cut flowers and leaves and here it is.

I am so pleased with what I have achieved and I just love the look of it. Well worth the workshop techniques from Andy Skinners online course.

Thanks for stopping by and see you soon

catherine

The last couple of weeks....

Hello everyone ,

This weekend I was lucky to have a workshop with the the very talented Seth Apter whose workshop was all about layers.

We covered lots of different techniques in the journal pages and then finally we all worked on our journal covers using any and all of the techniques we had been taught.

There are so many layers on here that I will say the first layer was red.

The first picture shows the cover when I thought I had finished but then I thought there was something else I could add-TEXTURE

Hence the second pic shows the cover finished and I love the textural element and how all those layers show through.

Also I have been working on an online workshop with Andy Skinner and this is the project to date- I am working on a box and this is the lid:

Again another very textural piece and loving those blends in these colours. Progress will follow as I continue to work on this.

Thank you for stopping by today and see you soon

catherine

London

Hello everyone.

I have recently been on my holidays and spent a week in London.

I am now trying to organise all my photos and scrapbook them together.

This is a layout I made today using the Papermania paper collection Portobello Road which I think work so well for this page.

I just love the road sign stamps from Paperartsy and have arranged them around the photo which look like a clock face.

The current sketch from this weeks Sketch Saturday challenge gave me the inspiration for the layout to this page:

I am joining in with challenges:

Sketch Saturday challenge #428-sketch

Alphabet challenge - N for Numbers

The Crafters Cafe challenge #156- use two patterned papers

The ABC challenge - O is for open

Crafty Creations challenge#323-use a number

Thank you for stopping by today and see you again soon

catherine

A christmas card......

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by today.
So I am back home from my holidays now and trying to get back to the normal routine.
New York had an unexpected heat wave and the temperature everyday was over 40 degrees-it was very warm !!!!!!
Anyhow back to the crafting and this year I am determined to be a bit more organised at christmas(last year I am ashamed to admit that I had to buy cards!) and have plenty of cards ready to send.
Now it has been a while since card making for me so I had to take some time with the layout and co-ordinating everything but I think it has worked nicely.

I made the focal point using  a very old favourite wooden stamp of mine for the Poinsetta flower and stamped onto vellum several time. I then heat embossed with white embossing powder and cut several different layers to layer up for dimension. The foliage has been die cut from a Sizzix Tim Holtz die and arranged around the flower. There is also a Tim Holtz Ivy border die cut with the ribbon to add depth.The greeting has also been stamped and layered onto die cut circles.
I am joining in with challenges:

Sweet Stampin challenge - Use your Favourite Stamp
ABC challenges- N is for Noel
Craft Your Passion challenge 325 - Anything Goes
The Crafty Addicts challenge 22- Anything Goes-Use Die cuts
Tuesday Throwdown challenge #307- Anything Goes
My Time To Craft challenge#327- Embossing
Petal Lu challenge#20- Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create challenge#188 -Anything goes

See you again soon

catherine

Visual Journal pages

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by today.

I have been busy preparing pages in my visual journal to take on holiday with me. This is the last one now so I will be able to continue with this whilst I am away. I am going for a week in New York and then a week in London on my return so will have plenty to document and write about.
The pages have all been done with lots of paint and doodling layers but are perfect for adding all the memorobilla which I am sure to collect upon my travels and will want to keep. Room also for photos which is a must!!!!
The flowers were layered and cut from an old journal page which I wanted to recycle and the days are seperated from strips cut from another old background I had in my box.

I am joining in with:
Try It On Tuesday challenge- use left over scraps

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge -MMMC#27-Travel(my Travel Journal)

See you soon 

catherine 

BAG MAKING

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by today.

I have been doing a few sewing projects lately and have made these different types of bags for my holiday.
I have never made bags before so I was really pleased with the way they have turned out and know they are going to be useful for travelling and fitting in a journal and some pens..

To make the bags I used a pattern from a CD Rom by Debbie Shore - Bags Galore- and found them very easy to understand and construct.

Hope your all having a good week so far and see you soon

catherine

Catch up post...

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by today.

So here is a post catching up from last week and my crafty makes so far.

I have been working on planner pages for the start of this week and now ready to start filling these in.

This is a page in my scrapbook journal which I recently started and includes pics of where I live and the beautiful scene of the viaducts and surrounding area.

I attended a weekend workshop at Art From The Heart and these are the two dolls I made. Painted and stitched and quilted together.

And so great news.... I have just found out that I have been given a spotlight on Simon Monday challenge blog for their Fauna and Flowers challenge a couple of weeks age !

You can see the post here:

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=6438

I am looking forward to visiting all your blogs and catching up with your news.

See you again soon

catherine

Why I Love My Art Journal....

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by.

I am on a venture in my craft room to try and use some of the "oh so many" supplies that I have collected over time.

Whilst going for my paints I noticed a box of Paperartsy paints,some I am ashamedly admitting to never having used before(yes I am like everyone else and collect things from time to time because they look so pretty!!!!).
Anyhow the story goes that I thought I would see how I could work with these paints in my journal.
So I had a page in mind and for this one it included a double page and I have to say I really enjoyed working with these colours and the Tangerine Twist has most definitley become a favourite of mine !

I love how the colours have worked together and how they pop of the pages.

And it is so hot here in the UK at the moment that these colours are just right for the day!!

See you again soon

catherine

AFTH workshop and planner

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by.
I have had a lovely relaxing day at Art From the Heart here in Harrogate. I took a workshop with Tracy Scott and we were working with texture paste and Dylusion inks. Its a good feeling sometimes to have white space on the page and really highlights the central focal points.

And here I am at my desk working on my planner pages for next week. It's funny how no matter how big a desk we have we all like to work in the smallest square of it!!!! Probably for me because the rest of it ashamedly is so full of stuff!!!!!Although I do admit to at least using it all.

Hope you are all having a good weekend and see you again soon

catherine

A photograph stirs the soul

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by today.

I as most of my followers know love working with mixed media in my journal but I also liked to scrapbook for a long time.

This page is in my journal and I love the way it has worked. I have been able to have a good play with paints, background stamps and stencils as well as  capturing a favourite photograph of mine on there . The quote" A photograph stirs the soul" is a wooden stamp from my stash but I love what it says.

I am entering challenges:
Creative Artiste challenge 16- Anything goes

See you again soon

catherine

Summertime Flowers

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by today.

Today I have had a play in my journal and just let the page go as I went along I knew there where going to be flowers and I wanted to include lovely summertime colours. I started collaging papers onto the page and then picked paints remnding me of warm colours in my garden.
I am pleased with the way the page has worked and love the summertime garden feel to it. I love sitting in the garden on warm summer nights and enjoying all the beautiful colours it has from the flowers.

I am entering challenges:
Anything But Cute challenge #15-summertime fun
Try It On Tuesdays challenge - Happy Holidays
Art Journal Journey- In my garden there is..

Thanks for looking and see you soon

catherine

Journal play time and DLP Art cards

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by here today.

I had a bit of time in my craft room this morning so just had a little play with the paints. I didn't have an idea what was going to happen and just let the page evolve as it went along. I did want to include my word for the month and think it works well with the page in total. Love these colours together as well.

I am entering into challenges:

Simon Says Monday challenge - Flora and fauna
That's Crafty challenge - Feminine

Also today I managed to do my weeks Art Cards for the Documented Life project this month. The challenge was to use stencils and I used the border stencils from Dylusions as the main focal points. The background pieces were previous stencilled backgrounds from my stash.
I placed them in the file folder and stitched around them.

Thanks for looking and see you again soon

catherine

Resuming Crafting....

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Today I am sharing my weeks pages for the Documented Life project which includes my calendar for the week.
My word this month is "Positive" and I will work on creating to include this.

I also have done some PAC's(pocket art cards) which I made from a workshop yesterday at ART FROM THE HEART with Kate Crane using Distress Crayons.

I also have bought some more Washi Tape which I am looking forward to using in my work. I wouldn't say I have an addiction to them but I may have to correct myself there and say I think it may slowly become one(lol)!!!

See you again soon

catherine