Back to my art journal...

Hi everyone, I have managed to get some time to play!
I started by making a tag for Moo Mania and More - Use a Stamp

I used tag that I made on my gelli plate using pigment inks and a little bit of stencilling! I used one my favourite stamps at the moment - the AALL and create poppy!
It didn't take long so I looked through one of my journals for one with some mop ups on it.
I added some stencilling and stamping over a page that wasn't to my liking. I used some of my new Clarity Stamps designed by Leonie Pujol.
I need something else but I just couldn't think what...when I spotted the tag!

I had also pulled some of the paint from my plastic paint palette so used that to add it to the page and then added some more stamping! I am hoping that there are enough dots and stripes to join Erika's 'PSPP' theme at Art Journal Journey!

I'm also entering my journal page at Simon Says Stamp Monday 
Challenge - 'Stamp It' 

and my tag at Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes With Flowers

Thanks for looking, Chris

T stands for .....Toulouse was great!

Hi everyone!It's been a mixed few days - we went out on Sunday - across the pennines to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park with my son and granddaughter and eldest grandson.It was a lovely sunny day and we walked quite a long way through some lovely scenery, interspersed with some arty treats. I will save the pics for a rainy day!!

Sadly yesterday our friend passed away, he had been in hospital since the night after we last went out with him and his wife and at the time we came away knowing that something wasn't quite right! 

I haven't done much crafting and felt an urge to do some re-organising in my craft room today which made me feel much better!!!

After my tale of the beginning of our stay inToulouse I am pleased to say it took a big upturn after that!
We went to visit St Sernin Basilica 

They were doing pavement repairs so it was difficult to get an outside shot without workmen in!
The inside was cool and beautiful!

I'm going to join Bleubeard and Elizabeth here for T stands for Tuesday!

We stopped off for a drink in a large square - Place du Capitole - I had a Lemon presse that I topped up with water while hubby had a Sprite.Here's hubby with his 'have you quite finished' look!

This is the Town Hall

It was very hot so we only had a little look around and then headed for shade in another church - Notre Dame de Taur - 

The weather was gradually getting hotter! We had seen warnings on TV and reassurances from President Macron that they were prepared...they were, we saw standpipes in the street and shelter provided for those who needed it.

I'll show you how we spent our last day another time!

As it is so late here I shall be visiting later in the week
Thanks for your visit today, Chrisx 

When???

I've been away from the computer for a few days again - nothing untoward, just a couple of appointments and then leading on to eating out with hubby! On both occasions we could have come straight home but one thing leads to another and there's still h@*$&<%£k to be done!!

I have found time for some crafting(getting my priorities right!) - I am taking part in Brigit Koopsen's new gelli print challenge - she is showing techniques on instagram and once again there is so much to learn about the gelli plate!
Yesterday's was all about making tape using the gelli plate - I used some that I made to make a journal page for Erika's Polka dots,Stripes, Plaids or Patterns theme at Art Journal journey!

 I started off with a drippy watercolour page and then cleaned off my brayer to make some stripes.

 More stripes were made by adding the tape and some stripy stamping.

I also added some gold paint that was left on my mat by dabbing it on with a paper towel.

I looked for a bird in my scraps and also found a little leafy branch. They seem to go quite well with my little paper doll and the stamped sentiment.

I also remembered to make a tag for Tag Tuesday...

..where the theme is Purple.

I used the same drippy colours and then stamped a daisy from AALL and create (by Tracy Evans) and a Crafty Individuals daisy and text. It looked a bit bare so I added the circles punched from a piece of paper on my desk.

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!!

Thanks for looking, Chris

The Young Ones!

Our new theme at Try It On Tuesday is 'Boys/Girls/All things Children' and we would love to see lots of young ones in your entries, whether they be cards or something mixed media, from babies to teens!
Please pop over to TIOT see the Design Team's fabulous inspiration!

I made a simple card using a Penny Black stamp and some washi tape!

 I stamped the image and coloured it with water colour pencils and a water brush then added a few strips of overlapped washi tape for her to stand on. I used the same washi tape around the edge to make a frame.The sentiment is by Lindsay Mason.

The challenge runs for two weeks - I do hope you can join us at TIOT!

Thanks for looking, Chris 

A first, a second ...Oh! and I've been drinking!!

I completed my calendar journal yesterday while at our caravan but just couldn't get the pics to upload so now, after sitting in a traffic jam for two and a half hours I have them!

 I used two colours of Distress Ink on my page along with some stamping and a plaid of sorts around my squares!
The only stamp I could find to fit in the corner was repeat stamped along the bottom and I added a few birds and butterflies!

Here is last months filled in. 

I would also like to join Erika for her Polka Dots, Stripe, Plaids and patterns theme at Art Journal Journey.


Next a Second look on the 2nd over at The Altered Booklover, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog

I'm taking you back to September 2014 and a visit to West Cumbria
      ----------------------------------------------------
I hope I didn't mislead anyone last week, we weren't rubbing shoulders with the aristocracy all the time! The Castle was Muncaster Castle on the West Coast of Cumbria and it really is in a beautiful area. We had an en-suite room in the Coachman's Quarters which of course were above the old Stables. 
The stables are now a cafe and we ate our breakfast here before the paying public arrived! We were quite surprised when the old gentleman next to us started to talk to us(and quote verses of his own poetry)told us his life story and then thanked us for coming! It was only Patrick Gordon-Duff-Pennington the owner of the castle. He is often seen around the castle entertaining the public and pruning shrubs where e're he goes.
(Warning - from now on there are lots of photos)

Our bedroom was just above the sign

The Castle is home to the World Owl Trust and has a huge variety of owls on it's conservation programme

The view of the owl Sanctuary from our bedroom window 

My favourites - spectacled owls- because we had free access
I visited these little fellas a few times

These two were huge!

On our first evening we decided to go along to Ravenglass for our evening meal! It had been rainy but we still decided to go for a walk. It is quite a small village and I'm sure would look even more picturesque on a sunny day!

Loved this!

When we came out of the restaurant after our meal I noticed an orange glow coming from behind the house opposite - walked along and saw this….

The dark clouds lit up by the sunrays was fascinating!

Ravenglass has a small railway and Roman ruins too.

The next day we spent around the castle - lots going on as it was Bank Holiday week. We were also treated to the sound of two Elizabethan musicians every so often which gave a great atmosphere  to the castle grounds(neither of us got a good photo)

The more formal gardens were beautiful with fantastic views

This was the entrance for coach house residents, past a beautiful church

The terrace walk provided the best views, the hedges are alternate Yew and Box.

At 4 o'clock each day loads (14 on the day we were there)of Herons turn up to be fed!

Once we had seen the Herons we headed off to see something I had looked forward to for a while!

This is Wast Water and was voted Britain's Favourite View!

Can you see why?

The Screes look quite dangerous

The view back the other way from the top wasn't quite as good

This was right at the top of the lake and is one of my favourite photos

We headed back alongside to a lovely pub for our evening meal.

               ------------------------------

It's also time to join Bleubeard and Elizabeth for T stands for Tuesday.

The other week was our Wedding Anniversary(the trip in 2014 was for our anniversary too) so we had a day out, at the time this photo was taken I had no idea where we were headed!

Hubby took a turn into Eyam (you may know this as the Plague village)and I wrongly assumed that this was our destination but he had decided to trick me by stopping off here for coffee.

I had a filter coffee hubby had a cappuccino, we shared a piece of cranberry cake that arrived with two plates and forks.(please note - I finished my coffee before hubby - a very rare occurrence!)

I could see hang-gliders through the window.

 Eyam is a lovely village, we did visit it a few years ago, but only went to the museum.

Our actual destination was Bakewell - a lovely town but I didn't take many photos so I may squeeze them in somewhere! 

Thanks for looking, Chris