Playing with Plaid..

Hi lovely peeps, it's been a while since I last posted, but there's a very good reason - I've been away visiting relatives in East Anglia, and we had a wonderful time. So I spent a couple of hours this morning (I've been up since 6am) creating a card for the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.

I took some time to do some therapeutic stamping, and it makes my heart sing when I can do this and just enjoy it! I've used two stamp sets to create the tartan background - Offbeat Backgrounds and Pic-Nic patterns.



This week's sketch is from the wonderfully talented Anya Schrier, a lovely tag shape.


I have used the colours from this week's challenge at The Ribbon Reel, in colours of Plum, Grey and Green.




The little punny sentiment is from WMS Sewing-box Hugs.



For the tag I cut two labels in plum bazzill and kraft card, and added a dotted border on the kraft, using WMS Very Vintage Labels No.4. I then cut the plum die cut down to resemble a tag shape - just cut the side and base curved points off.



I stamped the sentiment onto some dot embossed green bazzill, and cut into a little banner shape, then took two little scrap off cuts of the plaid and attached them onto the craft using a zig zag stitch.

I stitched the plaid background onto some green leafy patterned paper from a stack called Bird Song by Trimcraft, then adhered to some plum bazzill before mounting onto a white linen card base.

Finally added a big grey satin bow, rose and some green gems.


Supplies Used:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Very Vintage Labels No.4; Sewingbox hugs; Offbeat BackGrounds; Pic-nic patterns

Inks: Distress Inks in Dusty Concorde, Milled Lavender, Peeled Paint; Versamagic Dewdrop Purple Hydrangea

Paper: White linen Card Base; Trimcraft Bird Song Paper Stack; White card from stash

Other: Paper Rose, Grey Ribbon, gems from stash; Sewing Machine grey thread.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge

Let's Craft and Create - Challenge 22 - Tag it!

Tuesday Throwdown - punny Sentiments

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

Less is More

Morning all, I have a card this morning for Less is More Challenge. This week, Chrissie and Mandi want us to...

'Take 3 Challenges

We want you to choose 3 from any of our previous 29 and combine them in your design.
There is a list of our previous challenges under the tab heading at the top of our blog and you can also see the previous sketches under a separate tab.

Please state which 3 you have chosen.
NB There is no need to adhere to the One Layer if that is on the week you choose.

You may wish to go for your favourites or maybe your least...acetate springs to mind!

Most of all, be creative, have fun, remember our white space and the all important

"Less is More"'

I have chosen to make a One Layer card (Wk 28) and the themes from Weeks 23 and 16 - Butterflies and things with legs.

I have used two corner stamps from a set from Stamp-It, and Distress Ink Victorian Velvet.

The sentiment is from Waltzingmouse Stamps Asian Gardens, stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia.

Finally added some pink stickles for a bit of shimmer, but think I will add some gems in the future!

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

Highclere Castle..

Well, we did make it to Highclere Castle yesterday, the rain stayed away for the few hours we were there, and the kids had a great time!

It was interesting to see it again - we went last year before Downton Abbey came out and it was dead quiet, there were a handful of people milling around and us. Yesterday it was heaving, at least 6 coaches and about 100 cars in the car park! The guy in the ticket office said their visitors have increased from 250 a week to 1000! All because of one show! The power of television.

Anyway, here's some pics..

My eldest daughter in front of this beautiful house. I was lucky to catch her as she didn't realise I was about to take her picture, and when she did, she dived to the ground, but too late hehehe!



A detail of the intricate stone work. The facade of this house was designed by Sir Charles Barry, who also designed The Houses of Parliament. Victorian High Gothic splendour at it's finest.


Now, I was a bit naughty and took a picture of one of the bedrooms - we were asked not to take photos in the house, but I couldn't resist! I don't understand why not as it has been on the television enough times.


This is my son and his friend, digging for some archaeological finds in the Tutankhamun exhibition in the basement. Needless to say he was covered in sand!

It was the 5th Earl of Carnarvon who of course uncovered the tomb of the boy king with the archaeologist Howard Carter, and many artefacts were brought back to Highclere. All the exhibits on show now are copies, and the originals are back home, in the Cairo Museum.


My children ran about outside after the house visit, and couldn't resist rolling down these gentle slopes!




We then made our way to The Secret Garden...



Nearly there...


It must be here!




What a beautiful gateway, I want one in my garden!



Aaah, the secret garden, it really is very pretty..




A final goodbye to Highclere Castle, I may return next year if I can brave the crowds!

Less is More

Hi all, I have a quick post today for the Less is More Challenge, which I have been meaning to get round to all week, but time just ran away from me!

I have used the colours from this week's challenge at The Ribbon Reel - once I start using purple, I just can't stop lol!



I have used a little white hammered card base, and stamped the outside edge of a frame from Waltzingmouse Stamps Very Vintage Labels No.1, in Dewdrop Purple Hydrangea.



The sentiment is from WMS Say it With Style set, stamped in Versamark and silver embossed.



Then simply took some co-ordinating paper roses, twirled the stems and attached to the card, added some Martha Stewart punched out butterflies and finally some gems.


I'm really hoping the rain stays off this afternoon, as I am taking the kids to Highclere Castle, so I may be back later with some pics!

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

PDCC #95, WMSC #61

Hi bloggers, a quickie from me this evening for The PlayDate Cafe and Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.






And here's my take:



I have used a white card base, navy and green polka dot embossed Bazzill and some pink Core'dinations on my card, and the patterned paper is from Trimcraft Bird Song paper stack.



Nestabilities Labels 1 and a Martha Stewart butterfly punch...



Opal Dust on the butterflies from Jo Sonjas...



Stamps from Waltzingmouse Stamps and Gems from stash.

Supplies used:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Very Vintage Labels No. 1; Say it With Style.

Inks: Memento Danube Blue and Tuxedo Black.

Spellbinders: S4 - 161 Nestabilities Labels 1.

Other: Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch ; Bazzill Polka Dot embossed card, gems from stash.

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline xx

Flashback Friday Challenge 14.0

Morning all, a quick post from me for Flashback Friday Challenge 14.0. I haven't played along in a while, and this challenge they want to see our first gift card.

You can see the original post HERE.


I made this little stocking gift card holder last year using a Waltzingmouse Stamps free template, and all the stamps used are also from Waltzingmouse Stamps. It also remains my only gift card, so this has prompted me to have a think now for some Christmas gifts - My eldest daughter has requested that for Christmas she would like gift cards or money.

We are on the road to Christmas, I saw the first Christmas cards last week in a shop, I couldn't believe it!

I'll be back later with a card for The Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge, it's an intriguing sketch this week, so have got my thinking cap well and truly on!

Pauline xx

The Ribbon Reel Challenge #9

Morning all, today brings us another bi-weekly challenge from The Ribbon Reel Challenge Blog.

This week, it's my turn to choose a theme for our challenge, and I have gone with a colour challenge inspired by the photo below of plum, silver/grey with a touch of green.




For my card I have stitched a grey card panel stamped with a knitted pattern in Versamark and distressed with Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap Distress Inks, onto a purple card base.



Then using a variety of background stamps onto some white and green card, stamped some backgrounds and punched 9 squares using a 2" square punch. The text stamp I used on the green card was embossed in silver powder. I then distressed all the squares with ink and scissors, then stitched around all the edges with grey thread.


Using a star stamp from Waltzingmouse Stamps, clear embossed onto some matt silver card from Papermania, and cut using Nestabilities Stars. Distressed all the edges with scissors and some green chalk ink.


Added a distressed disc of purple pearlescent bazzill, embossed in black powder with a sentiment from Waltzingmouse Stamps, and added some green gems to the sentiment disc and to the green stamped panel in the bottom right corner.


Finally added some purple and grey seam binding bows and some plum bakers twine couple with a purple rose, all from The Ribbon Reel Shop.

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps :- Seasons of Love, Offbeat Backgrounds,Text-it,
Pic-nic Patterns, Faux Fun, Peace and Plenty

Inks: Versamark Watermark, Memento Grape Jelly, Inspirations Pigment Ink Pad Purple, Distress Ink Dusty Concorde, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Versamagic Chalk Ink Sage.

Ribbons: Seam Binding, Baker's Twine, Green Twine, Purple paper Rose :- The Ribbon Reel

Spellbinders: S4-092 Stars Five Spellbinders Nestabilities Set 5 Dies



For more information on our challenge rules please visit The Ribbon Reel Challenge Blog.

And check out my fellow team mates wonderful inspiration for this challenge:

TRR DESIGN TEAM

• Keilly Mulvihill - Keilly's Little Blog - OWNER OF THE RIBBON REEL
  
• Debbie Marcinkiewicz - Simple Treasures
• Clare Buswell - Clare's Creation
• Pauline Pollington - Craft Obsession - THAT'S ME!
  
• Zuzana Obert - Jelly Welly

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:

Crazy 4 Challenges - Bingo, Square Card, Die cuts and 2 or more Patterned papers.

Cupcake Inspiration

One Stop Craft Challenge

Ruby's Rainbow

DYSU Challenge


Thanks for stopping by today,

Pauline xx

A card for a few Challenges...

Hi all, today I have a card for a few challenges. The colour inspiration is from CR84FN, The Shabby Tearoom want us to use Polka Dots, Let's Craft and Create have a Teddy Bear theme, and The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop require ribbons/twine.

CR84FN graphic:


The Shabby Tearoom:



And here's my take:



Here is Milton the Bear, taking a wheelbarrow full of birthday flowers to a lucky someone!
I have had this stamp, by Wild Rose Studio for some time, and have never used it. So when I saw the challenge over at Let's Craft and Create, I knew I had to break him out!

He is coloured with Promarkers, and cut with Nestabilities Labels 14.



Layered onto some yellow polka dot embossed Bazzill, then layered again onto some kraft bazzill, embossed with a floral folder from Crafts Too.




The little tag punch is also from Crafts Too, and the sentiment is from Waltzingmouse Stamps, Teeny Trees.


Polka dot ribbon and twine is from The Ribbon Reel, and the doily and flat backed pearls from stash.

All distressed with Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap Distress Inks.

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline xx

I'm Back....! Mk. 2!

I'm baaack!! We have spent the last week in beautiful Staffordshire, exploring the area and Derbyshire too. The scenery is stunning, and we can't wait to go back!

Here are a few pics of our time away.


Beautiful Dovedale....



Shugborough Hall, once the residence of Earl Lichfield. A stunning place, it had a working farm and mill, a great day out with the family..

One of the beautiful ornate ceilings..


Chatsworth House, home to the Dukes of Devonshire. Very grand and glamorous!


We went to the village of Crich, which has a tram museum - not something we would have ordinarily chosen for a day out, but they had a 1940's themed weekend, so we went along - everyone was dressed up in 1940's wear, even Mr Churchill made an appearance!

I love this bobby chatting to some G.I.s


Well, I could show you more, but I don't want to bore you lol! I have missed my crafting for the past week, and can't wait to get into the swing of things tomorrow. Waltzingmouse Sketch looks interesting this week, so I'm going to get my thinking cap on!

Pauline xx