Normal service will be resumed!

Hello everyone, I hope that you are keeping well. My house currently looks like a florist's shop as I am recovering from an operation, and need to take several weeks to rest up at home. The family are looking after me really well, but it is a shock to their normal routine as Mum is not doing all of her usual jobs.

This beautiful bouquet was waiting for me when I came around from the operation, and is in my favourite colours, my family know me so well! It has been joined by several more now. I hardly ever get flowers, so I am making the most of the beautiful display.

I have two little friends to keep me company, and they are not often far from my side. Poppy and Bella seem content to sit near me most of the time:

I will be back crafting soon, but for now, am making the most of being spoiled. Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Butterfly Duo

Hello everyone, I have a card to share using the Steampunk Butterfly stamp set featured on the recent Craft Channel TV shows. Followers of my blog will know how much I love to mix and match stamps, and I also love to revisit older stamp sets to use materials that I did not have the first time around.

I created a background using gelatos, and then stamped the cog fragment using Tattered Rose Distress Ink. I used some pretty background papers from the Crafty Individuals range to create a bit of paper weaving, and also stamped and embossed two of the large butterflies onto the same papers, using silver embossing powder. Once I had attached the paper weaving to my background, I covered it with acrylic wax to seal the weaving, and to protect the paper.

I stamped a sentiment from the Awesome Diva clear stamp set onto the background, using Teal Zeal Memento Ink. This particular sentiment makes the card really versatile, and useful for any number of occasions. Finally, I used some co-ordinating card to mat and layer the background.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Berries and Birds

Hello everyone, it's time for another weekly posting on the Chocolate Baroque Challenge Blog, the first post of 2016. This week sees the monthly free download, designed as always by our lovely boss Lesley Wharton. I have created a card using the download, as part of the Design Team inspiration.

The download paper is a beautiful, vibrant design, entitled 'Chinese Goosberries', and it is very versatile, suitable for lovely Autumn, or even Christmas projects, but can be used for any occasion really. I have chosen to add a lovely stamp from the Woodland Dreams stamp set, I love the berries on this one. I stamped the image onto a piece of pretty pink scrapbook paper, that I have hoarded in my stash for ages. I have decided to use my supplies up this year, rather than hanging on to them. I used Versafine Onyx Black Ink, and clear embossing powder for a really vibrant image. I coloured the image with pencils, and then edged the panel with Barn Door Distress Ink. I stamped a sentiment from the Amazing Birthday stamp set onto another piece of the scrapbook paper, edging it with Distress Ink as before.

I matted all of the panels with black card, before attaching everything to a large card blank.

Pop over to the Challenge Blog to pick up the free download for yourself, and see Anne's fabulous card too. You can also read about how you can enter the challenge and win a £15 voucher to spend at Chocolate Baroque, we would love to see your entries.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Oranges and Lemons

Hello everyone, I have a cheery project to share with you today, one that will hopefully banish the Winter blues, and bring thoughts of warmer days. I have made a card using the new Another Brick in the Walled Garden shutter stamp, and created a garden scene.

I drew a square frame onto a piece of kraft card, roughly the size of the walled shutter stamp, and then stamped the orange tree from the Fantasy Woodland stamp set on either side, with the leaves from each tree creeping over the edge of the frame slightly. I lengthened the stem of one of the trees by drawing in the extra stem to the bottom of the background, (this meant that the tree was not floating in mid air), by using a permanent dark brown marker. I created a mask for each tree, and then stamped the small brick texture stamp from the Abstract Fragments stamp set over the background. I then trimmed away inside the frame, cutting around the tree leaves where necessary.

I stamped the walled shutter image onto a spare piece of kraft card, and coloured the images with pencils. I added the foliage to the tree on the main image by colouring the stamp with a Distress Ink Marker, the colour I used was Abandoned Coral. I added some shading around the edge of the frame with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I adhered the frame to a piece of dark olive card, and trimmed inside the frame, leaving a narrow border of olive green card showing. I then stuck the main image inside the frame. Finally, I added some Glossy Accents to the lemons on the tree.

The orange tree stamp goes really well with this new stamp, and really creates a Mediterranean feel to the card. I hope that it has given you some inspiration. Thanks for stopping by, xx