Thankful Everyday

It’s time for a new challenge over at Try it on Tuesday, which is Winter Blues.

My page today was created with lots of blue scraps that I had in my craft stash which included recycled papers from greeting cards, recycled envelopes, recycled book pages, leftover stamped tissue paper, old calendar pages, recycled foil from sweets and a photo from an old magazine. I simply collaged everything together using a glue stick and some Liquitex matte gel medium after edging them all with a black Faber-Castell marker. To finish, I added some measuring tape designed washi tape, a blue washi tape flower and the “Thankful everyday” sticker from Kaisercraft.

For more inspiration please pop over to Try it on Tuesday to see the amazing Winter Blues creations from our Guest Designer and my Design Teamies too (grin!). I hope you are inspired to join our challenge; it would be lovely to see you there!

As T Stands for Tuesday, I’m sharing my pretty blue mug of tea with a piece of spiced apple cake made with apples from my garden (smile!) – Happy T Day everyone!

Hope that you’re all staying safe and well!

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Challenges

As well as Try it on Tuesday, I’m pleased to join the following challenges:

LTSCB #159 Anything Goes over at Love to Scrap Challenge Blog with my paper scraps collage page.

Art Journal Journey which is being hosted by the lovely Mia from https://craftartista.blogspot.com/ this month who has chosen Use a Photo; I used pieces of sky and rocks from a photo in a magazine as part of my collage papers which you can see here:

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Friends are the flowers

Over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge, we are launching a new challenge today which is Friendship.

I had fun creating this page inspired by some beautiful summer roses in my friend’s garden (smile!).

I started by applying a piece of neutral paper over the background detailing lots of flowers. Then I added a flowery border sticker, along the left-hand side and right-hand side of the page, from a Floral Shoppe Graphic 45 Sticker Sheet. I stamped two flower heads onto some mixed media paper using a Flower Garden stamp set from Tim Holtz and black Archival Ink. Then I painted the flowers to match those on the Graphic 45 stickers using Lemon Yellow and Rose Madder Kuretake watercolours. I fussy cut the large flower head and die cut some buds using a Bloom Colourize Sizzix Thinlits set along with some leaves from some green Kraft Cardstock – Classic by Tim Holtz. I arranged them onto the page with a pretty tag, that was from the same Graphic 45 Sticker Sheet, adding a green satin ribbon; the tag reads “Friends are the flowers in the garden of life”.

I hope you’ll join us at Sparkles Monthly Challenge too, for more inspiration please check out the amazing Friendship designs from my Sparkles Buddies in the Design Team too; we would love for you to join us so please be sure to check out the rules here.

My dear friend loves gardening and here is one of the beautiful roses that she grows in her garden (smile!).

I hope that you are staying safe and well!

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Challenges

As well as Sparkles Monthly Challenge , I’m pleased to be joining the following challenges:

LTCCB #159 – Anything Goes over at Love To Scrap Challenge Blog with my papercraft page.

In With The New

Over at Try it on Tuesday we are launching our first challenge of 2023, which is In With The New.

Please join us using a new product or a new technique or like me maybe you’re welcoming in the New Year too (smile!).

I started by covering the page with Silver Extreme Sheen Metallic DecoArt paint and then stenciling the starburst lines over the top using Black Soot Distress Ink through a Steampunk Mixed Media Stencil by Stamperia (new). The “Happy New Year” wording was die cut from some black glitter cardstock using an X-cut Folk Alphabet set. I used the same glitter cardstock for the black stars, which were die cut using a Snowy Stars Thinlits set by Tim Holtz. I added some silver glitter foam star stickers (new) and lots of circular black and silver outline stickers. To finish, I splattered the page using black DecoArt acrylic paint.

As T Stands for Tuesday, I’m sharing a selection of Brewdog beers; my sister kindly gifted my hubby for Christmas a box of their “12 Beers of Christmas” which he was delighted with and we have been enjoying throughout the New Year – Happy T Day everyone!

Happy New Year and I hope that you’re staying safe and well!

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Challenges

As well as Try it on Tuesday, I’m pleased to join the following challenges:

Stencil Fun Challenge and their January Stencil Fun – Anything Goes (as long as you use a stencil) with optional Winter challenge the Stamperia stencils that I used to create the starbursts on my page.

LTSCB#159 – Anything Goes over at Love To Scrap Challenge Blog with my Happy New Year page.

Fairytale of Brew York

Today I have a page to share that I created by recycling a beer can label; we enjoyed this yummy beer over the holidays – Cheers and Happy New Year everyone!

I started by extending the label image over the page using a pencil and then colouring the different sections using Speckled Egg and Rustic Wildness Distress Paint and white acrylic paint. For the sky section, I used was Brushed Brass Distress Paint mixed with white acrylic paint. Next I die cut some fir tree branches, from some green Kraft Cardstock-Classic, using a Holiday Greens Thinlits set by Tim Holtz and some snowflakes using a Paper Snowflakes Mini Thinlits set by Tim Holtz from some white cardstock. I stuck everything in place using Liquitex matte gel medium and then splattered the page with white acrylic paint. To finish, I added some stickers from a Christmas Sticker Book by Tim Holtz.

We really enjoyed the beer, which was a Gingerbread Milk Stout – wishing you all Happy New Year and as T Stands for T Day sending you Happy T Day wishes too!

“Fairytale of Brew York takes a warming ginger spin. Rich gingerbread, cinnamon spice and heaps of creamy vanilla combine for this Christmas stout”.

Hoping that you all stay safe and well! x

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Challenges

I’m pleased to be joining the following challenges:

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge #31 and their Christmas Anything Goes Challenge as my deer and reindeer matches their photo inspiration and also celebrates a Fairytale in Brew York Christmas.

Merry Little Christmas Challenge and their MLCCB #48 – Anything Christmas Goes challenge with my Christmassy page.

LTSCB #159 – Anything Goes over at Love To Scrap Challenge Blog with my recycled beer label page.

Hello Winter

It’s a new month so we are launching our December challenge today over at the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog, and as always the theme is Anything Mixed Media Goes.

Whilst tidying up, I found this adorable robin image that I had saved from an old calendar and just couldn’t resist creating a page with it straight away; I even abandoned another page that I was creating, oh and also the tidying up (grin!).

I started by covering the background using white acrylic and Speckled Egg Distress Paint. Then I die cut lots of holly and fir branches using a Holiday Greens Thinlits set by Tim Holtz from some green coloured cardstock; I added more colour to them using a Dark Green Blend TriBlend Spectrum Noir marker. The cones were die cut using a Funky Festive Thinlits set by Tim Holtz from some brown Kraft cardstock – Classic by Tim Holtz. The holly berries were die cut using an old Festive Holly set and the wording using a Sizzix Doodle Alphabet and Letters set; they were all cut from orange paper which I later coloured using Orange and Sunflower Spectrum Aqua markers. I fussy cut the robin and stuck him in place, then I die cut the snowflakes from the remaining calendar paper. All of the foliage and snowflake pieces were arranged onto the page using Liquitex matte gel medium and to finish, I splattered the whole page using white acrylic paint.

I love robins and have quite a few beautiful metal robins in my garden; one Christmas my dearest friend in America bought us this pretty red robin sitting in a heart – isn’t it delightful (smile!).

Hope that you’re all staying safe and well, and wishing you a Happy December!

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Challenges

As well as Creative Artiste , I’m pleased to be joining the following challenges:

Art Journal Journey and the Snowy Winter challenge that I’m hosting this month as their are snowflakes on my wintery scene.

LTSCB #158 – Anything Goes over at Love To Scrap Challenge Blog with my Hello Winter page.

Paperbabe Stamps and their #182 – Anything Goes challenge with my winter page.

December Anything Goes Winter Challenge over at The Four Seasons Challenge with my Hello Winter page.

Challenge #64 – Anything Goes over at Ally’s Angels Challenge Blog with my Winter page.

Winter Wonderland Robin

Over at Try it on Tuesday our challenge for the next 2 weeks is Winter Wonderland.

My page was inspired by a beautiful Christmas card of a pretty robin sitting in a winter wonderland.

Using the Christmas card as reference, I painted the page to recreate the scenery on the card using Kuretake watercolours paints. Then I die cut the berries, grasses and seed heads from different colours of Tim Holtz Kraft Cardstock- Classic; the dies cuts that I used were Garden Greens Thinlits by Tim Holtz for the berries, a Holiday Greens Thinlits set by Tim Holtz for the grasses and a Delicate Autumn Stems Thinlits set by Lisa Jones for the seed heads. I stamped the trees and over-painted them using the Kuretake watercolours and I stamped some tiny snowflakes over the Christmas card and background. I stuck the Christmas card and all the die cuts in place and then I painted and heavily splattered the page with white acrylic paint. Once dry, I added the wording which were from a Christmas sticker book by Tim Holtz; they read “the beauty of a winter sky”, “wonder”, “little winter bird” and “the first snow has fallen”.

For more inspiration please pop over to Try it on Tuesday to see the amazing creations from our Guest Designer and my Design Teamies too (grin!). I hope you are inspired to join our challenge; it would be lovely to see you there!

As T Stands for Tuesday, I’m sharing my cup of tea with some yummy Scottish shortbread – Happy T Day everyone!

Hope that you’re all staying safe and well!

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Challenges

As well as Try it on Tuesday, I’m pleased to join the following challenges:

The lovely Bleubeard & Elizabeth from https://alteredbooklover.blogspot.com/ who is hosting over at Art Journal Journey this month and her theme is Collage Fodder, Food & Drink or Both so I’m joining her as I collaged the Christmas card and doe cuts onto my page to create this snowy scene.

Paperbabe Stamps and their #181 – Anything Goes challenge with my winter wonderland page.

LTSCB#158 – Anything Goes over at Love To Scrap Challenge Blog with my robin page and the recycled Christmas card that I used.

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge #28 where Anything Christmas Goes with my Christmas card inspired winter wonderland page.

Be Thankful

Today I’m sharing a thankful journal page and wishing all of you that are celebrating this week – a very Happy Thanksgiving!

I started by covering the chipboard page with some scraps of neutral coloured papers; I cut the papers into triangles before collaging them onto the page and then I applied some Pébéo white gesso over the top using my finger. I added the framed wording “when I count my blessings I count you twice” which was a sticker from Kaisercraft and the “Be thankful” wording which was washi tape. Next I added two flowers from a Tim Holtz Ephemera pack and two die cut autumnal leaves that were coloured using Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo Distress Inks. To finish, I added two little chipboard owls.

For our wedding anniversary last month, we went to a new local Chinese restaurant called “Blessings House” and had the most amazing time (smile!).

The beautiful picture on the wall is cross stitch and was sewn by one of the restaurant’s family – it was very detailed and must have taken ages to create!

We had the lunch buffet with starters and soup; our choices were Sweetcorn and Crabmeat soup and one of each of the starters which were Curry Samosas, Spring Rolls, Salt and Pepper Chicken, Spare Ribs, Chicken Satay, Prawn Toast and Seaweed.

We shared our mains of Chicken in Satay Sauce, Sweet and Sour Pork and Chicken with Mushrooms – it was all so yummy and very filling!

I forgot to take photos of our drinks at the restaurant, so as T Stands for Tuesday, I’m sharing a couple of pints that we enjoyed at the pub around the corner on our way home (smile!) – Happy T Day everyone!

I hope you’re all staying safe and well! x

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Challenges

I’m pleased to join the following challenges:

The lovely Bleubeard & Elizabeth from https://alteredbooklover.blogspot.com/ who is hosting over at Art Journal Journey this month and her theme is Collage Fodder, Food & Drink or Both so I’m joining her with my collage fodder page.

Paperbabe Stamps and their #181 – Anything Goes challenge with my thankful page.

LTSCB#158 – Anything Goes over at Love To Scrap Challenge Blog with my Be Thankful page; I used lots of scraps to create this one.

November Anything Goes Fall Challenge over at The Four Seasons Challenge with my autumnal thankful page.

Mischievous Cats

Today I’m sharing my fourth page using a napkin from the napkin swap over at T Stands for Tuesday. I used a pretty scalloped edge napkin full of autumnal colours and I decided to pair it with some Mischievous cats from Tim Holtz; I hope you like it (smile!).

I started by cutting the round napkin into quarters and tearing some of the napkin to create individual flowers, and then I collaged all the napkin pieces onto the page using a glue stick. The pretty cats were cut from some black Kraft cardstock – Classic by Tim Holtz using my new Mischievous Cats Sizzix Thinlits set, also by Tim Holtz. I layered them together and added them to the page with a sticker by Kaisercraft that reads “being together is the best gift of all”. To finish, I added some green, gold and blue gemstones to the cats for their eyes – aren’t they adorable!

Creating pages using the napkins from the T Day napkin swap is so much fun! If you’re interested you can find them here:

1. Bee Wellington Boots – Bee napkin from Erika
2. Time for Tea – Alice napkin from Lisca
3. Autumn Greetings – Autumnal napkin from Chris
4. Mischievous Cats – Scalloped napkin which I believe was from Elle (I thought you may like the cats, smile!) – this post

As T Stands for Tuesday, I’m sharing my Bad Kitty beer that I had at our local beer festival which was held in October this year instead of February. Me and my hubby always volunteer at this festival and we had lots of fun meeting people, serving and chatting to customers and of course trying all the beers.

Bad Kitty is from Brass Castle Brewery in Yorkshire; it’s a Vanilla Porter with a 5.5% ABV described as a “chewy chocolate-vanilla dream of a porter” and was very yummy! I thought it was the “purr-fect” accompaniment to my page this T Day as I know Bleubeard and Elizabeth like Porters and the brewery says “Bad Kitty earned its name from the antics of the two original brewhouse cats, who delighted in mischievously supervising proceedings”.

Cheers and Happy T Day! x

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Challenges

I’m pleased to join the following challenges:

The lovely Bleubeard & Elizabeth from https://alteredbooklover.blogspot.com/ who is hosting over at Art Journal Journey this month and her theme is Collage Fodder, Food & Drink or Both so I’m joining her with my napkin collaged page (smile!).

Paperbabe Stamps and their #180 – Anything Goes challenge with my fun page.

LTSCB#158 – Anything Goes over at Love To Scrap Challenge Blog with my Mischievous Cats page.

November Anything Goes Fall Challenge over at The Four Seasons Challenge with my autumnal coloured page.

Time for Tea

As it’s time for tea at T Stands for Tuesday, I’m sharing a page that I created using one of the napkins that I kindly received as part of the napkin swap – Happy T Day everyone!

I started by covering the page with Speckled Egg Distress paint and some white acrylic paint; mixing the paints on the page using a paintbrush. I ripped the pieces of a pretty Alice napkin and when the page was dry, I stuck them in place using a glue stick. Next I stencilled some Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink through a Vintage Diamond mini stencil by Creative Expressions. Then I added some black stamping using a Black Soot Distress Archival Ink; the stamps were a Tiny Dots stamp and a Script stamp from Kaisercraft and club and spade shaped stamp. To finish, I cut out and added various images from an Alice Stamperia paper pad.

As strawberry tarts feature on my page and happen to be one of my favourites, I’m sharing this one from our local bakery. It’s a shortcrust pastry base filled with a creamy custard and topped with glazed strawberries and it goes perfectly with my cup of green tea – yum!

Maybe you could join in the tea party too (smile!).

Hope that you’re all staying safe and well!

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Challenges

I’m pleased to be joining the following challenges:

The lovely Elle from Empire of the Cat is hosting over at Art Journal Journey this month and her theme is Fairytales, Folklore & Fables – Tell Me A Story so I’m joining her with my page which tells the story of Alice and her Adventures in Wonderland where she meets the Cheshire Cat, White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and joins the tea party.

Paperbabe Stamps and their #178 – Anything Goes challenge with my Time for Tea page.

Challenge #63 – Anything Goes over at Ally’s Angels with my Alice page.

LTSCB#157 – Anything Goes over at Love To Scrap Challenge Blog as I created my Time for Tea page using pieces of napkin.

I’m also joining a new challenge blog that’s just started this month called Stencil Fun Challenge which is Anything Goes as long as you use a stencil (with optional Halloween Colours), so as I had fun using the Vintage Diamond stencil on my page – Happy Stencilling!

Bee Wellington Boots

My page today was inspired by some beautiful wellies (Wellington rain boots) that were a surprise present from my mum.

My page design includes a napkin that I received as part of the napkin swap over at T Stand for Tuesday, I think this napkin was from Erika as it has busy bees on it.

If you are interested, I’ve also recycled the washi tape that came as part of the napkin swap, see my page Love you to the moon and back.

I started by creating a hexagon template from some card using a compass; I used this template to draw and then cut out hexagons of the napkin and also some blue paper that was recycled from a book cover. I arranged them onto the page using a glue stick and edged them all using some gold border outline stickers. Next I die cut the honeycomb from some leftover gold cardstock using a Bee Hive Sizzix Thinlits set by Olivia Rose. They were arranged onto the page with some white rub-on transfers for the wording and also some white flower stickers which I also added to decorate the napkins. To finish, I added two bees which were stamped and die cut using a Beehive Buzz Pink Ink Designs set, and were coloured using Spectrum Noir Tri-Blend markers.

Here are the pretty wellies that my mum kindly bought me; the colours, bees and honeycomb inspired my page design.

Wellies is a term that we use in the UK for Wellington boots which are also known as rain boots or gumboots in other parts of the world:

• Wellington boots, or “Wellies” are named after Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington who wore and popularised them here in the UK.
• Wellington’s boots were made of leather, but in 1856, the Scotland-based North British Rubber Company (now known as Hunter Boots) began manufacturing rubber Wellington rain boots. Being made from rubber enhanced the boots by giving them more flexible movement and making them 100% waterproof.
• The nickname “gumboots” is a nod to the natural rubber that rain boots are made from. Natural rubber, which is obtained from trees, is called “gum rubber” hence the name gumboots.

As T Stands for Tuesday and keeping with the bee theme, here’s my apple juice and ginger beer in a glass that we purchased when we visited Maine Mead Works in America which has their bee logo on it – Happy T Day everyone!

Hoping that you all stay safe and well! x

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Challenges

I’m pleased to be joining the following challenges:

The lovely Neet from Hickydorums is hosting over at Art Journal Journey this month and has chosen Fur and/or Feathers so I’m joining her with yet more busy fuzzy bees … ha,ha!

LTSCB#157 – Anything Goes over at Love To Scrap Challenge Blog as I created this page using a scraps of book page and gold cardstock as well as a napkin.

Paperbabe Stamps and their #176 – Anything Goes challenge with my bee page.