New for me

I love these challenges where you are encouraged to either use your new toys, or your old ones. The former is the case for DCM little extra. The stamp was from my children for Christmas, along with the packet of bows. This is 4x4 in size.

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Stamps : Anita's

Inks : Alcohol inks Bottle, Butterscotch, Lettuce and Metallic Silver; Adirondack Lettuce and Butterscotch

Extras : Prima flower; MM brad; Paper Cellar ribbon bows; BB card; SGme clear EP; orange ribbon

Polish Cow Bells

The TMTA theme for this week is postage stamps. I was pleased that I could use the strap-like piece of chipboard that I've had for a while, as it suited the theme on the stamp. I sponged it with the dabber and then the Latte inkpad to dull it down.

Inks : Adirondack dabber Lemonade, and inkpad Latte

Extras : PP unknown; Prima flower; Chipboard strap and flower; postage stamp; waxy flax ocean blue

Ismaki Challenge no1

Isa has joined forces with 2 friends, Magali and Kianel, to create a new challenge site Ismaki. Their first challenge is to use this sketch. I have used the option of an alternative shape. I sponged the flowers with the green, and spritzed with my homemade copper glimmer spray all over.

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Stamps : PSX With Love; PaperBag Studios Addison

Inks : Adirondack Caramel, Butterscotch and Peach Bellini; StazOn Olive Green; DI refill Antique Linen

Extras : Perfect pearls Copper; Scissor sisters flowers; MM brads; PP by Imaginisce

Deck of Me, weeks 46 - 48

I'm still playing catch-up on Emily Falconbridge's Art Journey cards. Here's the next 3 :
Week 46's prompt was rejuvenation.

I find it amazing that nature knows when we need a burst of colour to cheer us up after the bareness of winter. The bulbs are poking through in the garden - the promise of spring to come.
Gen 1.14.

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Stamps : AudDesign; Stampington Martha's Bulbs; Lakeland Ltd Ornate set

Inks : H2Os Cherry Sorbet, Pink Arthurium, Cedar Wood and Olive Vine; Archival Black; DI Walnut Stain

Extras : PP by Aunt Gertie; SGme Clear EP; Z Design RubOns

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The prompt for week 47 was ideas..

The ideas that I have for my craft work are prompted by words, colours, images, techniques, or the work of others. I love to join in challenges. I praise God for inspiration.

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Stamps : AudDesign

Inks : Archival black; DI Spiced Marmalade

Extras : logo images from challenge sites; PP by SU; MM RubOns

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The last challenge in this set was my happy place..

I guess this has to be within me. I am generally a happy person, and like to laugh a lot. Cheerfulness can often be infectious. Proverbs 15:13 - A happy heart makes a cheerful face. This is so true!

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Stamps : Crafty Individuals 118; AudDesign; Stampington Christmas Found Elements

Inks : ColorBox French Blue; VersaMagic Aegean Blue; Archival Black and Grape

Extras : Gesso; Me!

When at night I go to sleep..

I have used some lyrics from the opera Hansel and Gretal for the Gothic Arch challenge Guardian angel. It is a song I used to sing a lot when I was younger.

Because I have run out of time, and need to prepare for the new term, which starts tomorrow (eek!), I will have to double this challenge too, and add it to the Wednesday Stamper Gothic Arch challenge.

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Stamps : AudDesign; Design Objectives Corner Flourish

Inks : DI Weathered Wood, Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint; computer generated text

Extras : Image from flickr; Paper Cellar Crystal Gems

In the wild

This is an unusual colour combination for me, but I wanted to try it out. And also use a couple of new items - the flourish from my children in my stocking, and the birds a gift from Jacqueline. You have to imagine the copper tints from my spray!

The challenges were 4x4 Friday - to use textured paper, and Penny's Round Robin Blog Challenge #3 to use fibres (see below). This used the w from the word new, from which she chose 'wild' - hence the animal colour choice. I've always been fascinated by the colouring on giraffes. I will also add this to Mary's Happy Place as she has a challenge to use one of your Christmas gifts.

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Stamps : Design Objectives Corner Flourishes; JJ birds; Stampington Fresh Flowers Elements

Inks : DI Spiced Marmalde, Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold, Frayed Burlap and Walnut Stain; residue from Glimmer Mist Candy Apple Red; DI refill Antique Linen; Versamark

Extras : Elusive Images tag; DCWV orange card; petal paper; fibres; SGme Clear EP; Perfect Pearls Copper

New Year Greetings

The DCM challenge is to include the word new on your card, and the Round Robin Blog Challenge uses the 'e' from new; e for embossed. Added to this, I have used the January sketch #1 from 2Peas.
The flower (from Mary's package) and the sentiment are clear embossed. I pressed the inks onto a piece of plastic, and then watercoloured with them.

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Stamps : SU Time Well Spent set; HA Merry Christmas

Inks : Versacolor Bisque, Lagoon Blue, Pacific, Cocoa and Bark

Extras : Fiskars paper punch; PP by Fancy Pants; SGme Clear EP; Corner punch; waterbrush; brown brad

Flowers for Monet

I have fulfilled requirements for 2 challenges with this card : Theme Thursday's quote, and notepaper for Round Robin Blog Party #1. This is a 3 day challenge on Penny's site. The copper spray blended all the colours well.

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Stamps : HA Woven Fabric Background and A Real Flower; quote unknown; PSX dragonfly

Inks : ColorBox Yellow Ochre, Yellow Citrus, Olive Pastel, Fresh Green, Frost White and Chianti; VersaColor Split Pea; VersaMagic Hint of Pesto and Night Sky; DI refill Antique Linen

Extras : page from notepad; card by BB and DCWV; Perfect Pearls Copper

Pennant D

There's a new challenge given by Lisa at Simple journeys based on making pennants for a banner. I thought it looked fun! The measurements are 6 x 7.5 x 7.5 inches. This one is the first of 5 for the month of January, based on the D from the word DREAM. Use of a Dragonfly is the optional extra. I have to credit my daughter Catherine, who advised me on the design and colours for this.

I was lucky enough to win a blog candy from Mary. Thank you Mary - you can see I have used some of the goodies already.

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Stamps : Dragonfly unknown; SU Dream; PaperBag Studios Addison; See D's Ancient Alphabet

Inks : DI Fired Brick and Weathered Wood; VersaMagic Night Sky; VersaColor Polar Blue

Extras : MM eyelets; SU ribbon and flower brads; Prima Flowers

Le garçon

How cool is this - the Created ByHand challenge is to use glimmer sprays. I feel like 007 - Licensed to spray! I've used another homemade one, made with copper.

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Stamps : Tim Holtz I See Paris; PaperBag Studios Addison

Inks : Adirondack Red Pepper, Butterscotch and Peach Bellini; Brillinace Coffee Bean; DI refill Antique linen

Extras : BB brads; Perfect Pearls Copper; Corner Punch

Happy New Year for 2008

The TMTA challenge is Fireworks of Colour.

I think I would have enjoyed the fireworks at midnight had I been up, but I was trying to get to sleep as I'm playing in New Year's Day Viennese concert today. I'm very excited about this, as I will be playing with some string players from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Think of me oom cha cha-ing to the Blue Danube, and other waltzes!

For this ATC I brayered with the kaleidacolor, clear embossed the firework stamp, and sprayed over the top. Then I ironed off the EP before embossing the sentiment.

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Stamps : Stampington Scripted Elements; Denami Starburst

Inks : Kaleidacolor Bouquet; Glimmer Mist Patina; Sticky Fingers Bluebell; Versamark; ColorBox Charcoal

Extras : Clear, Turquoise Candy, and Violet EP

Deck of Me, weeks 42-45

Happy New Year everyone!!

I am in the process of fulfilling my new year's resolution - to complete my deck of cards, which I have neglected lately. Week 42's prompt of a grateful week had me stumped for a while, but then I realised how many thank yous I was saying, so recorded it here.

I am grateful to the pupils who came to extra rehearsals to prepare for the school concert. We played music from the recent Narnia film. I wonder if the Seikh girl who chose it realises that it's based on Christian principles!

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Stamps : Stampington Small Violin and Small Trumpet; AudDesign

Inks : StazOn black; DI Fired Brick and Broken China

Extras : 2 Narnia images from internet

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Week 43's title was sCaRy.

Some might say that it is scary when you receive a word of knowledge; eg. I 'knew' when my Nana died, despite being hundreds of miles away. I would say this is a blessing.

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Stamps : Lakeland Ltd Ornate Set; AudDesign

Inks : Kaleidacolor Melon Melody; Archival Black

Extras : brayer; Gesso; computer text

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Week44's challenge was home...

The first day we looked at this house we knew it was ours. It was empty, dirty and rundown, but I sensed God's prompting that this would be our 'home'. It certainly is!

It is a house that retains some of the original Victorian features, one being the floor tiles in terracotta and black, which I based this card on. The keys and lock are there to express the joy I felt the day we moved in. This is an open house to our friends.

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Stamps : Paper Artsy Letters 5; Time to Stamp ATC sets; AudDesign

Inks : Adirondack Butterscotch and Caramel; DI Fired Brick; ColorBox Charcoal; StazOn Black

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Week 45's title was self realisation

I was recently invited onto the prayer ministry team at church, and have been greatly blessed by this. My realisation is that God can use me more than I'll ever know - I have to be ready and open.

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Stamps : Stampington Collage Cube; AudDesign

Inks : Adirondack Wild Plum; Glimmer Mist Black Cherry; Castaway; StazOn black; ColorBox Eggplant

Extras : Image from chicks57 on flickr

It amuses me that some of the inks used have fruit names. Reminds me of the fruits of the Spirit!