WOYWW 248

Well that week soon disappeared! We went up to our caravan last Thursday and back again last night after a babysitting and pancake making session with our grandchildren - none went on the floor and only one slightly shrivelled in the pan effort!!

We only got back just before 9 last night and then it was cup of coffee and Death in Paradise(if you've never seen this it's a real treat, sadly the last one in the series last night)so bags are still unpacked and nothing on my desk. 
However I did take a photo of the table at the caravan mid invitations yesterday

I had a little production line going - I know...most unlike me to be organised and I have more than half finished now!
I was pleased that my son and fiancé finally settled on a reasonably easy card to assemble and I've been able to use my distress inks and  stencils!

Now for an apology - I didn't get back to some lovely people who left comments last week - the connection for most of the time was dreadful, I don't know why it never used to be that bad, we sometimes don't have a phone connection at all either or it cuts out halfway through a conversation and I'm unable to get back to the person I'm speaking to - maybe I need a new phone (still debating the i-phone/pad or whatever!!!)

Off to see the Book Thief today so I'll be back later via the link on Julia's Stamping Ground - where would we be without her?!

Thanks for looking, Chris 

March - and already late!

There's so much going on this month and I'm already trying to catch up. We're at our caravan, going home today and I've been making THE wedding invitations. Well, some of the time, we have been out for some lovely walks and a trip to Kendal. 
We have an exciting trip at the end of the month and back in time for Happy Stampers too!! The hares are keeping an eye on the time so I'm going to be able to fit in those appointments and outings with friends along with all the other things(including the rest of the invitations)
I used Peacock Feathers Distress ink around the edge of the page then stamped with a water spritzed stamp to create a ghosting effect. I then used the same stamp and more Peacock Feathers to stamp in the middle

The clocks are from one of the Papermania travel sets and the larger one a Craft Stamper freebie,the hares are Alice Palace ones from Crafty Individuals. I made a bit of a hash of the lettering so had to redo on some smooshed paper.
I'm linking to Kate Cranes Kathrynwheel blog where you can find out all about the 365/12 challenge.

Thanks for looking - must dash............Chris

WOYWW 247

Did I say things were going to change? Well they have - not as much as I'd like at the moment but I'm not far off. So....my desk - here on show at Julia's Stamping Ground where you will find all you need to know about how to join in - if you remember looked like this 

Now it's like this

centre

left

and right

 The photos above were taken yesterday when I'd finished

So this morning - a test drive so to speak - couldn't sleep so set to on round two of number one sons wedding invites - round one samples too plain!! He wants something more....my style - I had tried to do rather formal looking CAS style and it quite clearly wasn't what they expected so hopefully this next lot will do the trick!

We are off to see The Monument Men today so will get around at some point but I'm not going to miss a George Clooney film am I?

Ooh! Forgot to point out Happy Mail on my desk from Our Creative Corner's Laura - I was "pulled out of the random hat" the other week - Yay!!

See you later, thanks for looking, Chris

Happy Birthday!

I made two cards the other week, this one for a dear friend.

I used Wendy Vecchi Potting Soil Archival to stamp onto a small piece of linen and also onto a scrap of paper, both stamps came from the TH set Attic Treasures. The stencil is a new one that I bought at the show I went to at Event City and is by Memory box. I used distress inks Seedless Preserves and Shaded Lilac randomly over it and used the text stamp PA Mini 26 and Frayed Burlap just to add a little more to the background. The Happy Birthday is from Inkylicious stamped and bumped to give a more defined image on the background. I used a scrap of brown lace along the edge. 

I would like to enter in the challenge at Our Creative Corner - Blues, Browns and Purples

Thanks for looking, Chris

Strong!

Home again and just in time to enter! As soon as I saw this challenge - for the Quotes and Lyrics challenge at the Craftbarn - the first thing that came to mind was the old Rolling Stones song "Miss You"- but once I'd read the lyrics thought - Oh No! 
So, out with the quotes book that hubby bought me and found the quote that I have used here! Once I'd found the quote the main image choice - an Inkylicious stamp - was easy. I added some parts of stamps from Paper Artsy Lynne Perella set LPC004 and mini MN30 as well as parts of the Papermania travel stamps. The base tag was made by adding Frayed Burlap and Stormy Sky distress inks to my mat and running the tag through after spritzing the ink with water. The words were computer generated then rubbed around the edge with the distress ink, as was the edge of the tag.

The only thing then was to add some metal in the corner and a soft flower with a metal centre to emphasise how this lady, whom(who?- help!) I normally regard as a bit of a romantic, has a look about her that says she is also a strong character(look into her eyes!)

I am linking this to the challenge here

Thanks for looking, Chris

G is for .....

If you have ever read any of my blog posts that I have done while at our caravan you will know how I do go on a bit about the visiting birds! When I saw the Dragon's Dream Challenge Tag it on this time I just knew straight away what it would be - the subject - G and birds was right up my, err, garden!!!!

A combination of Distress inks - Weathered Wood, Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo, Ghost stamping with a flowery corner stamp from a bargain box at a show and a Kaisercraft diamond stamp. The photo of course, a little bit of stamping using Potting Soil archival. The bird at the bottom and the bird on the branch are from an Inkylicious set and the branch is something that's been around and about my desk for absolutely ages just needed a little bit of the ink rubbed across it. Just to finish I punched swirly bit using a Fiskars punch and some computer generated words

I would like to Link to The Dragon's Dream TIO G and birds

Thanks for looking, Chris

Tim's February Tag

As Valentines day has passed I've changed tack totally from my original idea. The techniques followed Tim's as closely as I could which you can see here. I must admit to struggling as I didn't have some of the products Tim used, however I think I made the most of what I have!

The stencil is by Memorybox. I couldn't resist using my new Tattered Lace and Spring Greenery dies along with the Tattered Flower Garland and the Rosette die. The Blackboard technique is new to me and not one I will persevere with!!! I had a little dragonfly that I thought fitted nicely with the colours and a chit chat word. I know it looks nothing like colour wise but I must say is more me so fate definitely took part in this(and imagination of course!)

I am linking to Tim's 12 tags of 2014 February tag challenge

Thanks for looking. Chris