2012 Wish for space Journal Pages

The Craft Barn has launched a new Art Journal Challenge. With the start of a new year tonight I have decided that I would like to take art journaling as my focus for the year along with my photography. I think both will compliment each other. I started the 365 photo challenge last year but I have to say I didn't keep it up religiously. Life got in the way - it has a habit of doing this in my limited experience. These days instead of feeling guilt I am trying to go with it and accept and be content in the moment. Journaling may help with this - we will see.

The Craft Barn has set up buildings as the topic of the challenge and this has led me to focus on one of my own wishes for 2012 - a space to be me in the crowded world.

I enjoyed playing with acrylics, a mask, Cosmic Shimmers, shrink plastic, doodles and stamps. Thanks for the inspiration The Craft Barn Team.







Loving all the entries so far on the blog - really inspiring. Looking forward to challenge two.

Happy New Year. Thanks for stopping by. Hugs Cherry X

Shrink Plastic

Trying something new.

More Christmas Cards

Thanks for stopping by. XXXX

A slow return

This darling snowman was sent to me by Debs, he is not only lovely but he reminds me of a very good day with my crafty buddies at Newbury Racecourse where Debs purchased him. This is my first post in a while and I am still getting used to a number of changes so my posts will be fewer but hopefully I can find the time and creative energy to be part of the community on blogger again in a small way.

I have really enjoyed playing with Deb's image, PMs and Tim Holtz's snowflake die. I've not really got to grips with this die before but just loved the look of it. Much happier playing with it today and have some more ideas now.Have loved looking at all the creativity going on on blogger even though I wasn't posting or creating much. It is so amazing reading about the lives and art that inhabit this space - it is so humbling and inspiring. Here's to the count down to Christmas. Thanks for stopping by. C XXXX

Blog Break

Due to life events. Will be back when I can. Take Care in the meantime. Hugs Cherry xxx

WOYWDW

This is my neglected desk at the mo. Hopefully be back to more creating next week. I can't get on to Craftbubble tonight so not sure if it's me or them. Anyone else having trouble?

Xxx

Inky Fun

Today I have two cards inspired by Rosie's picture challenge over on Craft Mad &Loving it Group. Rosie choose Starry Night by Van Gogh - a gorgeous picture. I was inspired by the colours predominantly- the rich blue and yellow.

For my cards I played with Ranger Glossy paper and alcohol inks in Sunshine Yellow, Latte and gold. I also had a play with Sunshine Yellow and Cranberry on to apiece of Ranger Memory Glass. Then I stamped the Dandelion seed head stamp from Lavinia Stamps in Black Stazon over the top. Mounted on blue textured card stock from Cutting Edge Crafts and mounted one on Kraft card stock and one on White. My pal Kathy gave me some seam binding that she, Wynneth and Lauren had dyed with alcohol inks and one of the pieces matched so I used that too. Added sentiments and stuck the memory glass on with sparkle Mod Podge.





I am pleased with these and will definitely be playing with this technique again soon.

I am entering these into:

Allsorts - free and easy play July challenge

And

Try it On A Tuesday Challenge - Flower Power

Thanks for stopping by. xxX

And

Wonderful weekend

Saturday in Stratford.



Artstamps Fair at Newbury Racecourse with crafty pals on Sunday - hooray.



Getting ready to go with Wynneth and Kathy. and Lauren.



Badges as gifts -prototype one.



The Racecourse.



Coffee break With Debs who we met there and stash acquisition discussions.

What did we buy? Well....quite a bit really. Lavinia stamps and Dreamweavers were particular favourites between us.

Hope you have had a lovely weekend too. Here is to a good week ahead. Xxxxxxx

Wonderful Wednesday Again.

This is my work desk today - left overs from Monday's project. So no crafting for me since then. But think the scraps could be made into something - may be an art journal page?



Left overs - Almond and Strawberry Tart with Creme Fraiche - yummy!



Hot weather calls for M&S Ice Cream all over the face!



Work - boo hoo!

XXX

Nicky Cresswell inspired me.

Flicking through blogger this morning I found this lovely tutorial by Nicky Cresswell on The Artistic Stampers Creative Team Blog. So I decided to have a play as a reward for keeping up with marking schedule, don't ask!

I used three DIs (Faded Jeans, Worn Lipstick and Milled Lavender) on glossy paper by Ranger and stamps by Darkroom Door. Added a little Glamour Dust and a ribbon from stash and one of my crafty pal Karen's pins. Put it all on to purple card textured card stock and then on to Papermania Kraft card stock.

This is my entry for Craft Mad &Loving It forum as we are having a Free Play session.

Thanks to Nicky for the inspiration and thanks for stopping by on this rather warm day. Xxxxxx

Purple Princess Candy

My lovely pal Kathy, aka Purple Princess Diaries is offering some lovely candy in celebration of her first ŷear of blogging. Kathy has a wonderful blog which is very well-tended and puts me to shame with creativity and nurtured followers and updates. Do go and check it out and find a wonderfully helpful and supportive lady into the bargain too. Go on you know you want to! You have until the 8th July.


Happy first anniversary Kathy and thanks for all the wonder. Xxx

Crochet heart progress peek

Struggling to fit in everything at the mo - so a very brief peek this post.

Have a great week all. Xxx

Mmmmmmm

Jammy biscuits from BBC Good Food.



Flour, sugar, butter & eggs form the dough.



Add jam to a hole in the middle and cook for 10-15 minutes GM5.




Then eat for a nice treat.

XXX

Thursday 16th June ...

Involved...



Sliding and ...



Swinging.

Then a drink...



Mmmmmm a mocha for me please.

Then a place that frequents intervals in my life more than I would wish for supplies...



Later there was...




Boiling.

Sill to come a little time to read...

.

What was good about your day? I wonder what the wonders of tomorrow will be?

Thanks for stopping by. Xxxx

Today...

I made soup and we had it for lunch.




Got beans ready for tomorrow's tea.



LO and I coloured whilst the BT engineer played.




Did a little more work on a small crochet project - from a pattern on a marvellous blog called Cherry Heart. Here is a real sneak peek indeed.



And lots of play with cuddlies - of course.




There was also exam admin as it is marking season. A few moments of silence and some giggling. Always a time for a quiet glass of wine and blogging too. Oh quite a few telephone calls too - always nice to connect on days and weeks when LO and I are on our own.

Hope you have had a fulfilling day whatever it was filled with. Thanks for stopping by today. XXX

Wishing in Pink & Brown

I've been enjoying using my PMs to colour these two images from an image swap - she is a real sweet Tilda. I love the pm colours Rose pink and caramel together and they go nicely with DI colours Spun Sugar and Vintage Photo. Shapes are cut using nesties. The lovely buttons are from Simon Says Shop's Bag-O-Buttons. The ribbon is Papermania which I inked also and just two bits of card candy. I also added a little spun sugar stickle to Tilda's flower and the stamped flower for a little sparkle. The flower was made with a Craft Stamper Mag stamp.



I decided to make a card and alter a Hotel Chocolat box to match.



I am entering these in to:

Passion For Pro markers Colour Challenge 103 pink/brown set by Anja and sponsored by Joanna Sheen

And

ABC Challenge W is for wish sponsored by LOTV

And

Thanks to Debs for the nod in the right direction - Magnolia Down Under Challenge recycle/alter it challenge who are being sponsored by Tickled Pink Stamps.

And

Sunday themed challenge set by Rosie - wishing (I 'm only a week late!) over at Craft Mad & Loving It.

ABC Christmas is K is for...

Kids/Kraft card stock. Do go and check out the loveY DT work and the other entries over at the ABC Challenge Blog as the work is gorgeous. I have to say thanks to the team again for my lovely prize too.




So here is my entry. A little Norma Fickle Wee with reindeer coloured with Promarkers and a little glitter. Card stock a mixture of Papermania and DCWV. Papers are DCWv Christmas stack. A LOTV sentiment , a button and two silver flakes finish it off.

I have also done the option of making it a gift token holder too.



This is also my entry for Karen's sketch challenge over on Craft Mad & Loving it Group. The sketch was great.

Thanks for popping by - it's a lovely sunny day here I hope it is where you are too. xXX

Something with wings and lace rrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Another wonderful Nellie Snellen image coloued with DIs and Cosmic Shimmer paints. Kraft card stock is by Papermania and paper is a Papercraft Mag freebie. The beautiful lace is by Kaiser crafts and card candy treasure is from Craftworks.

Really love these pirate images.

I am entering this in Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge Lace. Nicola gives great service as I got the images and lace from her and it arrived very quickly.

I think it also fits with Charisma Cardzt Challenge -things with wings ( parrot!).

Thanks for taking a peek. Go find a little inner pirate today! Xxx

Yo Ho Ho

This card is one for the boys - who doesn't want to be a pirate?

Love these Nellie Snellen images. I've gone with DIs for colouring and teamed him with card stock (cream&blue from DCWV and Kraft from Papermania). Card candy treasure is from Craftworks. Sentiment is a LOTV.

This is fitting for Karen's song theme over on craft bubble. Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of rum!

I am also entering this in Simon Says Stamp Challenge Father's Day/ For a Male - the DT creations are amazing!

Crochet jam jar Cover!

Not the most essential piece of kit but a project I completed on my newest journey in the craft world - teach yourself crochet - the jam jar Cover!



Pattern taken from Nicki Trench's book "Cute and Easy Crochet". I've added the button and beads and the crochet chain tie. It was very relaxing to make - slightly worries I could become obsessed and I'm not sure how many jam jar covers the world needs - lol. Must get back to the bigger project.

I had a lovely postal package this morning - my win from the ABC Christmas Challenge. I picked myself some lovely Basic Grey papers - Sweet Threads, some Claudine Hellmuth Matte Medium and a wonderful Bag-O-Buttons from Simon Says Stamp Shop. I have to say the papers and buttons are more gorgeous than I'd expected. For some of my crafty friends buttons are a precious bling which up until now I didn't really get. I DO NOW!



Any how I am off for a little bit of button stroking right now. Have yourselves a very pleasant Thursday. XXX