You Must Be Joking

Hello.  Welcome.  So the old year is rapidly winding it's way to the end.  It seems not long ago it was the New Year.  So full of promise and expectation.  I hope that it has been a good one for you and yours and the happy times outweigh and overwhelm the sad.  

I wanted to join the Mark's Finest Paper Challenge where this week they want to see a mainly blue card.  So as I was hunting for blue scraps to use, putting my resolution to use up the scraps into practice, I saw my altered playing card deck.  I have been working on these since Sept 2014 (that's a bit embarassing isn't it).  Claudine did hers in 6 Months.  Anyway if you want to see some of the others click on the Altered Playing Card label.  Actually the very first post has quite an amusing anecdote about a sheep!!  I finished the last card a couple of weeks ago but still have the two jokers to finish.  So here's one, all in blue.......

I hadn't gessoed the jokers and I decided not to bother since the backs were blue and white.  I just built up a sort of plaid pattern with paper tape.  

I coloured some paper with blue brusho's and stamped and embossed the tiger from MFP's Tiger set and fussy cut.  The sentiment is from Rubber Dance Sarcastic Superpower set.  I don't use these enough!!  But I thought it kinda suited the tiger image.

Right, now I'm off to make a fruit salad to take to a party tonight and a couple of other things to finish.  Hopefully the other joker will be finished soon as well.  I have an idea LOL.......   Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge 294 - Mostly Blue
Repeat Impressions WIW December Anything Goes Challenge 
FSC Challenge 106 - Make Your Own Background 

Good Girls Go Green

Hello.  Welcome.  There are a couple of colour challenges I wanted to join.  I have recently been enjoying making monochrome cards so, despite thinking this needed a bit of red, I persevered and ended up with a green girl, holding a green cat, against a green background.  

I stamped High Hopes Annie with Her Cat, masked, coloured the background with 3 shades of green distress ink and then stamped Unity's Whimsey Borders with green ink.  Then I coloured Annie and her cat with about 8 shades of green distress inks and my waterbrush.  I used a green card base and added a green polka dot washi tape border.  I stamped Rubber Dance Warm Greetings sentiment and embossed with green tinsel embossing powder.  Maybe not 50. but certainly many shades of green.  I painted the background with W&N Iridescent Watercolour Medium, to add to the festive feel.  Made it a little difficult to photograph and also gave added texture cos the paper wrinkled a bit.  Hopefully it will be flat again by tomorrow!!  Thanks for visiting.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
High Hopes Stamps Challenge - Christmas/Winter
Stampinback Challenge - 50 Tinten Groen 
Repeat Impressions WIW December Anything Goes Challenge
Scrappiness Utfordring 11 - Mixed Media

Blogger Changes to Friends Connect

Hello.  Welcome.  Just spotted this at Lori's blog and a few other people are re-posting as well.  If you follow my blog through Google Friends Connect and do not have a google account please read this. 

An update on Google Friend Connect

Posted: December 21, 2015

In 2011, we announced the retirement of Google Friend Connect for all non-Blogger sites. We made an exception for Blogger to give readers an easy way to follow blogs using a variety of accounts. Yet over time, we’ve seen that most people sign into Friend Connect with a Google Account. So, in an effort to streamline, in the next few weeks we’ll be making some changes that will eventually require readers to have a Google Account to sign into Friend Connect and follow blogs. 

As part of this plan, starting the week of January 11, we’ll remove the ability for people with Twitter, Yahoo, Orkut or other Open Id providers to sign in to Google Friend Connect and follow blogs. At the same time, we’ll remove non-Google Account profiles so you may see a decrease in your blog follower count.

We encourage you to tell affected readers (perhaps via a blog post), that if they use a non-Google Account to follow your blog, they need to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow your blog. With a Google Account, they’ll get blogs added to their Reading List, making it easier for them to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs they follow.

We know how important followers are to all bloggers, but we believe this change will improve the experience for both you and your readers.

Posted by Michael Goddard, Software Engineer
I'm sorry if this creates a problem for any of my followers.  I hope that if you don't have a Google account you will choose to create one. Once you create a Google account, you will need to become a Follower again because all previous Followers who did not have an account will be permanently removed from our Follower lists.  If you choose not to open a Google account, you can still follow my blog using Bloglovin' or via email.  You will need to check each blog that you currently follow to see what options they have for you.
 

Please feel free to copy and paste to your own blog to let your own followers know what's happening.  Hugz

Owl Be Seeing You

Hello.  Welcome.  I made a tag

Inspired by the Die-namites inspiration picture

When I first saw the picture I though corrugated card, so I used that as a base for my tag.  I liked the worn white paint, so I added gesso.  Maybe I should have crackled it?! 

Then I used gold texture paste through Echo Park Diagonal Stripes stencil, cos the bags are stripey LOL.  I recently won this stencil from Bubbly Funk at The Daring Cardmakers Challenge.  Thanks Caroline.  Hugz

I cut Die-namites Festive Owls twice and coloured with sharpies.  I used a piece of burlap, cos the bags are fabric, and arranged the extra foliage around the owls.   The sentiment is a Rubber Dance stamp, stamped and embossed with gold tinsel embossing powder on vellum.  A bit of overstamping that I thought looked OK.  I am learning to embrace my imperfections.  Hugz

I added some burlap for the tie (not my best ever idea!) and a lovely copper coloured charm from Korthobby. 

If you have Christmas pennies to spend and are shopping for stamps check out Rubber Dance Stamps.  
You can get 15% off if you use my code gail2015 before the end of the year. 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Die-namites December Inspiration Challenge
Korthobby Utfordring Desember Utfordringen - Alt Er Lov 
Stamplorations Mixed Media Challenge 
Scrappelyst Utfordring for Desember - Dies 
Scrapy Land Challenge 32 - Holidays 

Monkeying Around

Hello.  Welcome.  It's that monkey again!!  I think this is rapidly becoming my favourite die.  He's such a happy chappie.  And he goes so well with these fun sentiment stamps from Rubber Dance.  

I have found a new challenge to play along with.  A Dutch challenge.  I haven't looked very much at Dutch challenges but this one caught my attention.  The Hedgehog Hobby Shop wants to see black and white OR blue and brown.  Both great combos,  but I decided Monkey looked best in brown. 

I cut Cheery Lynn Yay! Monkey from dark and light brown card.  I used DCWV Far East stack for the other papers.  Love the texture.  I ripped the edges of the brown layer and cut Cheery Lynn Small Tea Rose from the blue.  I stuck the roses all over and hit everything with Blueprint Sketch distress ink.  The sentiment is from Rubber Dance Funny Birthday set.  Love how you can get monkey to hold things!!  

Mounted my panel on a blue card base and used Wink of Stella on the edges of the panel.   

If you have Christmas pennies to spend and are shopping for stamps check out Rubber Dance Stamps.  
You can get 15% off if you use my code gail2015 before the end of the year. 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 217 - Anything Goes 
De-Egel Challenge 12 - Blue and Brown
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Make It Sparkle
Scrappelyst Utfordring for Desember - Dies 
Allsorts Challenge Weeks 342 and 343 - Anything But Christmas 

Horsing Around

Hello. Welcome.  Posting a clock I altered for a friend.  I enjoyed altering this clock so I thought I'd make another one as a present for Elin.  She has horses.  Actually she has these horses LOL

I used a photograph as my background.  I painted the clock with blue acrylic behind and embossed the gold line around the edge of the clock with gold tinsel embossing powder.  The numbers are from Rubber Dance Pick a Number set, stamped on paper coloured with the same blue acrylic and embossed with the gold tinsel embosssing powder.  It has extra sparkle.  I am pleased to report that you can heat emboss an IKEA plastic clock without melting the clock.  Although it did take a lot of heating and did get quite warm.  I originally intended to do more, but in this case I think less worked very well.  

If you are shopping for stamps check out Rubber Dance Stamps.  
You can get 15% off if you use my code gail2015 before the end of the year.  

You might also like to check out Kristiina's post where she is having a fun giveaway.  Hop over and join the fun.  

Thanks for your visit.  Hugz

Joining the fun at 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Make It Sparkle  
Scrappiness Utfordring 11 - Mixed Media 
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge Weeks 342/343 - Anything But Christmas 

Pony and Art

Hello.  Welcome.  I needed a quick card just to say thank you.  There's actually probably a big demand for these at this time of year.  Or don't people send thank you cards now??  Just a quick email, or tweet, or some other electrronic expression of gratitude.  Call me old fashioned, I am a committed snail mail fan.  

I artistically painted my background to create the appearance of the suns rays.  You think??  OK, I admit it.  It's a piece of packing that got a little bit ripped when I removed the sticky stuff and I painted with yellow acrylic.  It seemed perfect as a sunset scene for my die cut Cheery Lynn Fence Rider.  The thanks was stamped using Rubber Dance Alphabet Uno stamps.  I was going to leave the edge of the panel clean, but it wasn't coming together so I got smudgy with the black archival.  It just softens it all up I think.  

If you are shopping for stamps check out Rubber Dance Stamps.  You can get 15% off if you use my code gail2015 before the end of the year.  

If you are a snail mail fan you might like to consider joining the Card Chain Challenge.   Make a card, send a card, get a card.  Everyone's a winner.  Sign ups for January HERE
See the November Reveal (all cards exchanged in November 2015) HERE

I'll leave you with this picture I just snapped of the full moon rising over the mountains, on a frosty Norwegian night.  Probably should have photoshopped the street lamp LOL

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 216 - Thank You Theme 
Country View Challenge 34 - Create a Scene 
Kreativ Scrapping Utfordring 12 - Alt Er Lov
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge Weeks 342/343 - Anything But Christmas 

Grab and Add

Hello.  Welcome.  Merry Christmas.  The big day has arrived again, although actually here in Norway we kicked off big style with food and presents yesterday evening.  Today has been pleasantly peaceful after the last few busy weeks.  So wherever you are and however you are celebrating I hope you are having a merry and happy time.  

I'm not sure what happened to December!  I just don't seem to have found crafty time.  I was intending to lock myself in my craft room today but that plan went a bit by the way as well.  So finally this evening I decided to stop mucking around and finish a card I started the other day for the Mark's Finest Paper challenge.  They want to see a mostly purple creation and I wanted to use a new stamp from Sweet Pea.  

 I stamped One and Only Heart with purple ColorBox dye ink.  I added purple brusho powder and sprayed with water that I had added Windsor and Newton Iridescent Watercolour Medium to.  Serious bling, alas not showing in this picture.  Then I coloured the image with various purple distress inks and a red gel pen.  I ripped the paper in a rough diamond shape and layered on purple paper and a Bazzill card base.  The happy birthday is from Mark's Finest Paper Tiger set. 

Thanks for taking the time to visit.  Hugz

Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge 293 - Mostly Purple
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Make It Sparkle  
Great Impressions Stamps Challenge - Anything Goes
Kreativ Scrapping Utfordring 12 - Alt Er Lov
Scrappiness Utfordring 11 - Mixed Media 
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes 

Snowman Bling

Hello.  Welcome.  Here's my DT project that I posted on the Rubber Dance Scandanavian blog earlier this month.   

I used the colours from the november/december Rubber Dance challenge :

I used Sizzix snowflake rosette and patterned paper from Authentique. 

I stamped the snowman from Frosty Friends, coloured, fussy cut and stuck one on each side of the snowflake.  The ball link chains are from Korthobby.  

Glitter glue gives a lovely sparkle.

I made three with images coloured red

Three with images coloured blue. 

Thanks for dropping by.  All the stamps are from Rubber Dance.   

Don't forget to use my code gail2015 to get 15% discount in the shop

Hugz 

Joining the fun at

Korthobby Desember Utfordring - Alt Er Lov 
Scrapyland Challenge 31 - Anything Goes with Dies 
Scrappelyst Utfordring for Desember - Dies/Punches 
Scrappiness Utfordring #10 - Jul   

Number 52

Hello.  Welcome.  The end of the year is nigh.  I spotted my deck of altered playing cards.  Still unfinished.  But only just.  So I grabbed the last card I hadn't altered and checked with Claudine for inspiration.  Thanks Claudine.  

I was just playing really.  I applied a rough layer of gesso to my playing card.  I used a chevron mask and versamark ink which I embossed with clear powder.  Then I inked with Color Box dye inks.  I like that the inks bring out the texture of the gesso.  I stamped Unity's Tess and coloured her with neon gel pens.  I fussy cut and mounted her on some scripty paper with a torn edge.  I added some neon arrows cos I hadn't used this Spellbinders die set.  No other reason really.  I doodled a border and I am sure it needs a sentiment, or a sassy comment, but it's late.  It's been a long day.  I am sure something will suggest itself at the appropriate time.  So glad to have my final playing card done.  Well, almost.  LOL  Just need to do the jokers!! ROFL

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Unity Stamp Co. Friends
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Die Crazy 
Stamplorations Mixed Media Challenge - December 

Rana, Rana, Snowangel

Hello.  Welcome.  Tis the season to be crazy.  Crazy busy, crazy weather, crazy crafting.  The last has been sadly lacking but tonight I saw Shanna's post over at Viva Las Vegas and a few things fell into place.  So I grabbed a few stamps, some tape and my fired brick distress stain and came up with this

Do I have your attention now??  Have you stopped laughing??  What's wrong with a frog making snowangels???  I stamped the postage stamp dispenser and embossed with red tinsel embossing powder.  Then I stamped the frog and the sentiment.  All stamps are from Viva Las Vegas.  I coloured with gel pens and added wink of stella round the frog.  He had to have some googly eyes as well...

I used a spellbinders square swatches.die to cut a mask for the center and also to cut the edges of the panel.  I used washi tape to mask for my red stripes.  I used a black and a red pen to outline the central masked area.  It's a little bit crazy but I'm sending it to my brother as a Christmas card.  He likes frogs.  Merry merry everyone.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Viva Las Vegas December Challenge
Share The Joy Challenge 15 - Sketch and Tic Tac Toe sketch + lhs vertical
Fashionable Stamping Challenges #106 - Make Your Own Background
Scrapy Land Challenge 32 - Holidays
Penny Black and More December Challenge - Anything Goes 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Die Crazy 

Snow Chains and Sunglasses

Hello.  Welcome.  It's been a busy, fun, eventful day.  At one point I donned the ice grippers and sunglasses and all was beautiful in the world.  Then the sun went in and it was time for a cup of hot chocolate.  Ahhhhh,  the joys of winter.  

And so to the crafty delights.   

It's a christmas monkey!  Starting to like this die.  Lots!  Cheery Lynns Yay! Monkey cut from green patterned paper and paper pieced with red.  I stamped Rubber Dance don't open before christmas and embossed with green tinsel embossing powder.  I cut using Cheery Lynn Old Barn Board die. 

I cut a tag using the same pp as Monkey and smeared on some Pine Needles distress.  Should have used more to give better contrast......  The parcels are cut from a piece of christmas pp and some wool.

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 214 - Red and Green
The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge - Presents and red 
Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge 292 - Mostly Green 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Tag It 
Scrapyland Challenge 31 

Heard It On the Christmas Tree

Hello.  Welcome.  It's my turn to wow you with crafty amazingness over at the Rubber Dance blog.  Hop over and see if I have succeeded..........   

Leave me some love, here, there, everywhere.  We all need a little love and as they say, christmas is coming and Santa rewards all the good girls and boys ;-))  

Have a fantastic day.  If you are shopping for stamps Bibi still has a few grab bags at bargain prices and great christmas deals in the shop.  She can gift wrap and send straight to your loved and lucky crafty friend if you want so hop on over and save yourself stress, time and money.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Fine Art And Pheasant Tree

Hello.  Welcome.  It's the last challenge of the year over at PaperArtsy.  I suppose I must get used to it.  Lots of things are coming to an end.  Makes way for lots of things to start!  But let's get some things finished first.  This masterboard was actually finished a few days ago but I couldn't work out what to do with it.  But, with the deadline looming, I started cutting and hoped something would pop up.  And strangely enough it did.......

I was looking at Alison's post and liked the stamped tissue paper so I brayered Pansy, Limelight and something green onto a piece of card.  I stamped lots of uplifting words onto tissue, ripped it up and glued it on.  Word stamps from Paperartsy, Unity, and Crafty Individuals.

I thought there was too much contrast so I hit it with the white paint.  Always a bit scary, especially this time cos it was new white paint.  Very opaque white paint.  Everthing went white!!!  Argggggg... grab the paper towels and swipe it off.  OK, we will call that a save.  It certainly brings it together.  

So now I'm a bit stuck cos I can't decide what to do with it.  Then up pops this Prima Doll I paper pieced an age ago.  She has been popping up a few times recently so I decided I would use her.  

I arranged it so she had some useful words in useful places.  Looks a bit like newsprint!!  Who else is in my already stamped box.......

 Unity's Harmony Girl.  More artistically placed words to inspire.

And Tim Holtz Retro Witch!!!   Well, it's used a few UFO's.  In this instance I actually placed the witch to take advantage of the negative space on my masterboard.  No idea what occasion this one will be for but I am sure it will suddenly be the most desirable card I have.  LOL

Thanks for dropping by.  Hope you haven't been drowned, washed or blown away by the storm.  I am considering swapping the chickens for ducks, or maybe buying them all rubber wings, oops, I meant rubber rings.  ROFL.  Hugz

Joining the fun at 
Paperartsy
The Unity Stamp Co. Friends

Wishing You a Very Happy Day

Hello.  Welcome.  Happy Birthday Bibi.  Hope you have a fantastic day.  I made you a tag

OK, I made you a christmas tag!!  Well.......  But you have to agree the Rubber Dance snowman from Frosty Friends is pretty cool.  I stamped him on a tag cut using Sizzix Tags #2 and coloured with promarkers. 

I used Stormy Sky distress ink to colour the background.  I added the pen line and dots, inspired by Tatiana's tag.  Love the detail on that snowman. 

So have a great day Bibi.  Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Want to celebrate with Bibi??  New stamps in the shop today with 25% off til Monday.  Check them out NEW Stamps og NYE Stempler.  Have you seen the GRAB BAGS??  Perfect for the crafter in your life.  Go on, you deserve it........  Hugz

Joining the fun at
25 Days of Christmas Tags
I Love Promarkers - Winter
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Let It Snow
Dies R Us Challenge 38 - Christmas
One Crazy Stamper December Challenge - Christmas/Winter 

Ting Tang Tinsel

Hello.   Welcome.  Filling a few minutes with a couple of tags.  

I was inspired by Tracey's second tag in this post.  I cut my tags using Taylored Expressions Tag Stacklets 1 from MME paper.   I cut two and have used the front and the reverse sides.  

The penguin and sentiment are Unity Stamp Co. 'Don't Get Your Tinsel In A Tangle'.  

I liked the coloured lights on Tracey's tag so I decided to colour penguin's tinsel with neon pens.  The wool was a gift from Bibi.  Thanks Bibi.  Hugz

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
25 Days of Christmas Tags
Unity Stamp Co Challenge - Any Holiday
Dies R Us Challenge 38 - Christmas
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Let It Snow
Kreativ Scrapping Utfordring 12 - Alt Er Lov

Folding Fun

Hello.  Welcome.  I have followed the tutorial at Mark's Finest Paper to make a double gate fold card.  It was easy and fun.  Might have to make some more of these LOL.  

I used my scor-pal to score my MME double sided card and cut as in the tutorial.

I stamped the small santa from Mark's Finest Papers Dear Santa set.  I embossed with black powder and coloured with promarkers.  

I attached the santa to the card front and also added some Cheery Lynn die cuts.  I have used Snowflake 2 and Mini Rum Punch die cut from the same card as the background.  I like the embossed look this gives.  

Inside I added the large Santa and sentiments, also from the Dear Santa set.  Love the vertical Merry Christmas.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
MFP Stamp Shop Celebration Blog Hop Tutorial
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 213 - Non-traditional Christmas Colours 
Scor-pal More Than One Score Challenge 22 - Winter Fun/Holidays 
Hjerteboden Desember Utfordring - Jul 
Dies R Us Challenge 38 - Christmas
The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge - Something Folded