By the Sea!

 Hello and thank you for visiting me.  A couple of weeks ago I passed out and ended up with lots bruises and cracked or broken ribs, blooming painful even now.  Lots of painkillers are helping and after being checked out at the Doctors, all is OK which is good.  Though might take up to 8 weeks to heal.  Anyway, enough complaining - it could have been a lot worse!  

Today's card is a seaside card - lots of people will be heading for a dip to stay cool in these hot temperatures we have at the moment.  I am staying indoors out of the sun - I am not a fan - much more of an autumn/winter lover myself.

The beach huts and the fabulous vintage bathing lady are from Crafty Individuals CI-278 rubber stamp set.  Unfortunately Crafty Individuals is no more as Jean and Malcolm have retired but you might have this stamp set or there might be one for sale somewhere.  The words are also Crafty Individuals but I can't remember which set.  The seahorse stencil I used for the background is from A Colorful Life Designs in the USA.  Its a one woman business and she makes some amazing stencils.  

I used the masking technique to get the beach huts behind the lovely lady, the colouring is done with alcohol markers and the stencilling with Distress Oxides and there is stickles for sparkles.  

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Stencilling - mine is the seahorse background. 

Darnell's NBUS Challenge - my Never Before Used Schtuff are the stamp set and the stencil.

Snippets Playground - my snippets are the sentiment strips - I forgot to photograph them. Sorry.  I was determined to enter at last! 

Allsorts Challenge - Seaside

Make My Monday Challenge - Summer Fun

Thank you again for visiting me and if you are living somewhere (like here in Bournemouth) where it is really hot, try and stay as cool as you can.  Have a fab week.  

Take care. Chris xxx💖💖💖

Sometimes All You Need Is A Hug!

Hello and welcome to my blog, it's a pretty dull day here in Bournemouth and has been raining but it's been so dry, it's much needed.

A simple card today but I adore this image - I made it for someone going though a tough time.  Excuse the wonky photo!

The image comes with the sentiment and is a rubber stamp from Creative Expressions by    Andy Skinner called, you guessed it, 'Sometimes all you need is a hug'.  Unfortunately              Creative Expressions has now closed down due to retirement but this stamp may still be available if you search around for it online.

I stamped and embossed the image using Versafine Clair Nocturne and Wow clear detail embossing powder and coloured with watercolour pens adding a touch of clear Wink of Stella which you can't see in the photo.  The scallop die is Julie Hickey but I can't remember the name of the set and its mounted on a 5 x 7 Kraft card blank which I made myself.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Allsort Challenge Blog - Anything Goes - It's the Allsorts 16th Birthday! Happy Birthday!

Stamping Sensations - Our Furry Friends - A teddy is definitely friendly and very furry!

Darnell's NBUS Challenge - Never Before Used Schtuff  - Mine is the gorgeous stamp and sentiment set.  It's the NBUS 75th NBUS Challenge - Happy Birthday! 

Darnell's IDEAS Calender - I - Ink/Colour Mediums - I used watercolour pens. 

Thank you again for visiting me and take care. Chris xxx💖💖💖

Hello!

 Hello and thank you for visiting me today.  I have a bright and colourful 'Hello' card today - I like making these as they can be used for any occasion,  just add a suitable sentiment inside. 

The flower die from Sizzix Wildflower Stems #2 by Tim Holtz is cut twice from black and white card using the black as a shadow.  I used the Slatted Square Die from Craft Addictions UK for the background. The set is out of stock at the moment but I am sure they will be restocking.  The stencil is Grid by Tracey Hey and the circle dies are from The Works.  I think the 'Hello' is Tracey Hey too but I can't remember which stamp set, sorry.  I used Distress Oxides to add colour through the stencil and added clear Wink of Stella to the flower and the scallops round the sentiment.  

I would like to enter the following Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge  -  Die Cuts.

Darnell's NBUS Challenge - Never Before Used Schtuff - mine is the Slatted Square Die.

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Paper Piecing or Anything Goes - mine is Anything Goes.

The next Allsorts Challenge is their 16th birthday so certainly one to join in with! 

Thank you so much for visiting me today and I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Take care, Chris xxx💖💖💖

Time for Tea!

 Hello and welcome to my blog after another long break from me!  Today I have a card recently made for a friend's birthday who had a lovely afternoon tea to celebrate her 65th.

I used Tim Holtz Papercut Cafe Thinlet dies,  Eileen Hull Lace 3D Embossing Folder and Craft Addictions Postage Stamp die set along with papers and card etc. from my stash.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Darnell's NBUS Challenge - Never Before Used Schtuff  - mine are the teacup dies, embossing folder and postage stamp die set and mat.

Darnell's Weekly Ideas Calender - Anything Goes.

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Inspired by a song - mine is Tea for Two by Doris Day and many others too! 

Thank you so much for visiting me and take care! Chris xxx💖💖💖