I'm here ...... just.....

I've no energy for brain power I'm afraid so I'll just go straight into the pics if you don't mind. I'd only be waffling on anyway lol.

This a card in this months Making Card Magazine using the fabulous Polkadoodles Stamp Soup stamp sets.

 A Creative Expressions sample for Emerald Crafts. 

Claritystamp Groovi sample

 Claritystamp stamps and lots of line work.

 Claritystamp stamps and stencils.

Time for bed now I think. Dee x

Well hello everyone. What beautiful weather we've been having. Its so nice to have bright sunny days and be nice and warm. Its such a shame I cant sit out in it though but between medication and the Lupus I'm very very sun sensitive so I have to cover up or suffer the consequences. I'm not complaining though, yes it's a pain in the bum sometimes but things could be far far worse.

Its not so good for the poor people and animals of Alberta though. I have a friend In Alberta, a very lovely lady called Susan Weckessa, an artist and craft designer. While shes not right in the thick of it her husband is, as hes a firefighter and has been drafted up to help fight the blaze. My heart goes out to her as she's so worried, its not something you'd ever get used to, your loved one putting himself in danger all the time. What a hero he and all his colleagues are.

I had a fantastic holiday in Canada, the best ever. I went with my friend Jo and my Auntie and Uncle. We flew to Calgary picked up a 30 foot motor home and drove up to Vancouver through the Rockies stopping when we fancied it. Then back down to Calgary via a different route to fly home. As it turned out I did most of the driving as Uncle used to get in a bit of a stew about driving and Jo was scared of the drops on the mountains. It was the most amazing experience ever though. The countryside is unbelievably beautiful and breathtaking, to think of so much of it being ravaged by the fire is almost unthinkable, and the poor wildlife, what a horrible way to go. Praying isn't really my thing, I do it occasionally when friends are having a hard time, but I am praying for Alberta and all its inhabitants. I don't know if it does any good or not, I suppose it depends what you believe in but its worth a try.

Onto samples and a little selection for you again. I hope you like them.

 Polkadoodles Stamp Soup CD and stamps combined.

 Polkadoodles Stamp Soup stamps. Distress reinkers made into sprays for the background and watercoloured for the stamps. 

 Claritystamp Stamps for this one

 A Claritystamp Groovi card. White parchment, some whitework and coloured with Zig Brushables.

For Emerald Crafts and Creative Expressions. Sue Wilson embossing folder and Phill Martin stamps. Very simple to do, just layer up the stamps using different colours.

For Emerald Crafts and Creative Expressions. Sue Wilson paper pad, Creative Expressions Singles stamp, That Special Touch masks, Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Polish, Colour Clouds and Pearl PVA.

That's it for now. Stay well till next time. Dee x

Hi there, it seems I'm having a bit of an issue with stupid finger syndrome. I had this post almost done and then bam, one press of a button and its all gone, disappeared never to be retrieved! well not that I can find anyway. I am  bit miffed it has to be said, but what can you do once its done? not a lot.

Anyway, thank you to everyone that came to my demo day at Emerald Crafts, it really was a lovely day talking to like minded people. I am really grateful to everyone that came along and supported the day. And what better could you get than being in the New Forrest? Such a beautiful place.

The first card is from Saturdays Demo and was probably the most popular sample. White on white is always popular though, but a pig to photograph. Especially when you don't have much skill in that department.

 

Sue Wilson Dies and Embossing Folder. John Lockwood sentiment stamps. Creative Expressions embellishments, ribbon and lace.  All available from Emerald Crafts.

 Sue Wilson Dies and paper pad. Creative Expressions Singles stamp. Cosmic Shimmer pastel watercolour palette, Creative Expressions Ribbon and Embellie.  All available form Emerald Crafts. 

 Sorry its a winter card, but I love this card I really do, so you'll have to let me indulge.

Claritystamp stamps, ink and Stickles, quite simple really.  All available for Claritystamp LTD

 A Groovi card from the weekends TV shows. Quite a funky one and bright and cheerful.  Claritystamp Groovi plates, coloured parchment and pens to colour the flowers and butterfly.

  And the last one today A Polkadoodles Stamp Soup Sample. I think this is a Lavender Tea one but I might be wrong, and if I'm honest I'm too tired to go and look, sorry. Yes I know, I'm a lazy mare. There I said it for you lol. 

Black card, clear embossing powder with Versamark inkpad and Cosmic Shimmer watercolour paints.

See you soon, thank you for visiting my blog, its very much appreciated. Take care.

p.s. it seems the spellcheck has decided to stop working so please forgive any bad spelling, its really not my thing. good job I can craft!

So much for good intentions! Ah well I'm here now, but I'm on my tablet so no card pics I'm afraid. I have been very busy, firstly with Clarity Samples for this weekends shows on Hocanda, then another job for Barbara, and now samples and prep for my demonstration this Saturday.  This is the first demo I've done since last October and I'm quite looking forward to it. I do like going to Emerald Crafts at Lyndhurst. It's a fabby shop and stuffed full of crafting goodies. If you have some spare time and you live near enough please do come and say hi.

I was going to add a few pics but I don't know how to get the pictures loaded onto here. It's not giving me any options to actually find them. Any help much appreciated.

Bed time now so I'm off.
Take care all, xxx

Cor Blimey what happened to the last few days? Oh well I'm here now and what a gorgeous day we've had again. I even got a little bit of gardening done. Its not often I really feel up to doing it although I do really love gardening, even if I can only do it in small bite sized snapets. I should really have been doing some work for Barbara but unfortunately nothing arrived in the post so it will be all hands to the pumps when it does arrive.

I have a few more cards for you, the first one I had totally forgotten about.  It is a couple of years old now so I think I can be forgiven.

 Claritystamp xmas stamps and stencils. White embossing powder on velum and it could be white pen to colour the holly and ivy but the layer behind I did some gentle white work after running the mask and vellum through the Grand Calibur.

 Claritystamp Wee stamps and the new Alphabet.  I love these cute rabbits. When I do a painting project I will often slap any unused paint onto a piece of card or tag rather than waste it.  This was such a piece from my bits box.

 Polkadoodles Lavender Tea Stamp Soup for this one and good old watercolour paints with a few bits from the accompanying CD.  You can't really see it from the photo but all the flowers and leaves are decoupaged.

Arhh, Bertie Pug. This stamp is from a dog set from Oysterstamps that Ive had for years. You can't get them now but its such a handy set for dog lovers. I coloured him in with pencils.

Take care everyone, I'm off to bed now. Dee xxx

 

What a beautiful day it is today. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the bees are buzzing about and I've got washing on the line.  That last bit is a sure fire way of making the weather change, but I had to take the chance.  Washing smells so much nicer for being out in the fresh air, and its less creased.  Not that I iron either way, such a waste of time when it goes straight back in the wash after a day or so.  In fact the only time I do pick up an iron is when I need it for a crafty technique, it's definitely a handy tool then.

I have a few offerings for you again today, both old and new.

 A nice bright and cheerful one to start with seeing as its such a lovely day. I used mowed lawn, spiced marmalade, squeezed lemonade and picked raspberries distress inkpads and blending tools to colour the background piece. I dripped some water over and blotted with kitchen roll to take the colour out a bit.  The flower and dragonfly is stamped with Archival ink and Polkadoodles Lemonade Fizz Stamp Soup stamp set which I coloured with pencils to match the background.

 I made this card for an Emerald Crafts demonstration for Creative Expressions. Just Right stamps and dies, Spellbinders embossing folder (I think)! and a floral and dotty mask. 

I have to tell you I love this bricks and mortar shop. It is stacked full of crafty goodies, and if you like die cutting it has a really comprehensive range to choose from. I spend a fortune every time I go there. Sush, don't tell Colin!

 Claritystamp wordchain and funky leaves stamps with black sparkle embossing powder on an alcohol ink marbled background using the shaving foam technique. All the products can be bought form Clarity apart from the shaving foam lol.

A Claritystamp stencil and stamped card. I used both the internal and external parts of the stencil brushing ink through and around with Clarity blending brushes. Then I stamped the animals and lineart sentiment with black Archival ink.

I hope you like today's offerings, my tummy is rumbling so I'm off to forage in the kitchen for some lunch. Take care, Dee xxx

Hello there. Sorry for the delay but I've had a little blip, but that's life is it not?

Anyway here are a few more samples for you.

 Claritystamp wee stamps and the new alphabet set.  The background was done on the Gelly Plate with green and blue inks and torn paper.

 A sample from the newest Groovi plate release. Coloured with pencils.

 A Polkadoodles sample from Lemonade Fizz CD and Stamp combo. The umbrella is a template on the CD. Flower and leaves were coloured in with Copic markers.

Catch you all again soon, Dee xxx