Autumn colours!

I may have said this before but I love Autumn, the  cooler days and the blaze of colour that we see changing before our eyes!
I used a stamp from Artistic Outpost and overstamped the tree in several colours.

The background is patterns made with a selection of random stamping on a watercolored base.  We enjoy seeing different birds in our caravan garden at this time of year, and hoping we get to see the Redstarts raiding the berry bushes. I have used a birds stamp by Paper Artsy from one of Darcy's sets.

I would like to enter in 
Stamping Sensation's challenge - 'Colours of Autumn'
 and
Moo-Mania and More's challenge - Autumn Mood

Thanks for looking, Chris

Architecture - a first attempt!

The theme at Art Journal Journey is Architecture - chosen by Sheila. I have seen so many wonderful digital compositions I decided to have a go myself using Printshop on my Mac.It has taken quite a time as I kept losing the edge of the image and had a black line down the side - to show you I have printed it out, cut off the black edge and photographed in my journal.

the background is a page from my journal - ready to use for something else….

the image is one of the photographs I took in Edinburgh

the birds and the quote are from Printshop.

I think I need more practice so you may see more of this style!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Facing up to it!

I have often drawn faces but I am shy about showing them, especially knowing there are so many wonderful artists(especially Susi, Valerie and Julie Ann) that I know in Blogland!
So I am holding my breath and jumping straight in with a sketch I made a while ago! 
I have given her a wall with some rather prickly plants climbing up it (Paper Artsy Hot Picks1004)

Poor girl has one eye larger than the other…or she is trying to see past her fringe and has opened it wider!!??

I am daring to enter her in the Paper Artsy Challenge Topic 19 - Faces

Thanks for looking, Chris

T stands for a trip out!

I am so late getting here for tea…some of you may already be in bed!!

I am trying to catch up on chores and crafting as I have a day of meetings on Thursday!!

We had a lovely long weekend away at our caravan, although we didn't rest there long!

Friday took us to Kirby Lonsdale, one of our favourite places that is quite near to drive to. We parked at Devils Bridge and decided to walk along by the River Lune to the town and do a round trip.

It was windy to start with but once we were down by the river the wind dropped.

This is Devils Bridge and you can see the road bridge through the archway

The rest of the photos here are roughly in order

 Halfway up the steps I decide to take a couple of photos

We had a short walk along to Ruskin's View

and then walked through the church yard and back to the car.

One last look over the bridge

We did stop at a cafe but …just forgot to take photos there, so since I am joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth for T

I will show you one of our lovely meals from France!

This was one of the restaurants that my SIL and hubby took us to - I love the ladder with missing rungs!! Our drink was, of course, water!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Update on sugar levels - even with reduced medication it is staying down - YAY!!

It's Unusual!

Every year I have intentions of starting making my Christmas cards early….but it doesn't happen! Since finding the ABC Christmas Challenge, via Samantha at Penrith Crafts back in September I have quite a few made already as I entered the R and T challenges and made a few extra each time. This time the challenge is 'U is for Unusual Christmas Colours' and they want to see non-traditional colours being used.
I took some of my Christmas stamps away to the caravan over the weekend and although we went out and about a bit I also had some playtime. I also took some of my 'new' Tim Holtz distress inks.

…Ground Espresso and Blueprint Sketch.
The stamps are quite old - the Artemio tree is from a set I use a lot and the swirl is from an Inkadinkadoo set.
I do try to keep my cards flat for posting, but I don't think the thin pads I used will make a great deal of difference to the depth of the card for the post.
I did leave some cards flat and I'm not sure yet whether they will get the same treatment, I also experimented with different colour combination too although slightly more traditional colours.

While I still haven't put anything away I may may even make some more!!!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Patterns at Moo Mania and More

A very brief scheduled post today - you can guess where I am!!
The theme at Moo Mania and More is Show Patterns.
Last weekend I was doodling and came up with this…

I coloured it using my coloursoft pencils and few Inktense ones 

Thanks for looking, Chris

Venice architecture

My latest entry for Art Journal Journey is using a photo from a flyer inside a magazine. I had intended making a photo transfer but then realised that the view would be wrong, for this is also a memory of my visit to Venice. If you have been reading my blog for a while you may remember my traumatic(I know….over used word!)trip onto the Grand Canal on a gondola!(See here)

The quote was one I found via my phone.

The main background was made so long ago and has been in my journal just waiting for me to DO something!!
I made the watery background onto watercolour paper using Blueprint Sketch and Salty Ocean distress inks and stamped using the same colours. A little bit of Grunge paste through stencil and then added Viva Inka- Gold - Aquamarine by rubbing over with my finger. The 'waves' are a stem from Darcy's PA EDY10

I am loving Sheila's theme of Architecture at Art Journal Journey although I am still trying to visit other folk who have entered this great challenge!

Thanks for looking, Chris