Calendar Challenge - December

We have come to the final challenge of the year on The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge, and I am pleased to say I have kept up with it every month, unlike a couple of other challenges although one, J52, I will complete when I can.  Our two words this month were Gold and/or Silver and Christmas Trees.  To alter my beer mats I covered them with BP and was going to use my Gold Krylon pen to edge them - but it has been such a while since I used it that it has dried up and the nib got stuck inside!  So I have resorted to using peel offs - which I have to say I have no problem using them from time to time although I know some people hate them at all costs!

I have really enjoyed this challenge, so thank you Craft Barn and I am looking forward to the new one for 2016!

Calendar Challenge - November

Our two words for November on The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge are Grey and Owl.  I have altered my beer mats by covering with grey BP and using various stamps and glitter from my stash - hopefully the glitter shows up!  I can't believe we only have one month to go with this challenge - hopefully The Craft Barn will be bringing us a new one for next year!

Journal52 - Hope

Another catch up page for Journal52 - the theme was Hope and for the first time I have used parts of napkins on my page which I have wanted to try out for a while.  I always look at the lovely napkins in the garden centre and finally bought some to try out!  As usual I used a quote for my page.

Journal52 - Hideout

Another quick catch up page for Journal52 - this time the theme a few weeks ago was Hideout and as always we could interpret it as we wished.  I printed off a photo of my favourite place to visit nearby where there is a hidden bench to sit quietly out of the way.  I used acrylic paint for the background and a couple of stamps and a stencil.

Gruffies & Guests Ch#22 - Embossing

I've just posted the halfway reminder on Gruffies & Guests for Challenge #22 - Embossing.  For my DT work I used an image from a House Mouse paper pad - silly me didn't check the size of the images when I bought it and the main ones are 8" x 8" and I don't make cards that big so I used one of the smaller ones!  I used a couple of Cuttlebug embossing folders for the background.

If you take part in our challenge you could win 7 digi stamps from Bugaboo Digi Stamps, so pop on over to the blog and take part!

Journal52 - Plans and Keys

I've managed to catch up with two challenges for Journal52 this week!  Only a few behind now!  The first one is Plans and I went for a bit of a different style for me this time which I have been trying to achieve for a while.  Still need lots of practise though!

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The second one is Keys and I used up some old BP I've had for years and some Crafty Individuals images for this one - I am always pleased to be able to use up old stash although I never seem to gain any space!

Calendar Challenge - October

Our new words for The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge for October, are Orange and Pumpkin or Fruit.  I used papers and Tim Holtz images and words from my stash for my altered beer mats, as always pleased to be able to use up things I've hoarded for a while!

Journal52 - Comfort Zone

Another catching up page for Journal52 - this time the theme was Comfort Zone.  I used a pink background as this wouldn't be what I would normally go for in journalling and I used a few images from my stash that wouldn't be the first ones I would use.  And of course, I found a quote to go with it!

Journal52 - Perspective

I am about 6 weeks behind on these challenges on Journal52 but will get there slowly!  I tend to go for quotes for my pages mostly so this one, Perspective, was no exception!  I had fun using Distress Inks and some of my stamps from my collection.

Gruffies & Guests Ch#21 - Make It Fruity

I have just posted the halfway reminder post over on Gruffies & Guests for our current challenge, Make It Fruity.   I used images from a House Mouse paper pad for my DT work.

All you need to do to enter is use any Gruffies, House Mouse or Happy Hopper images and you can even use the option of Anything Goes and you will be in with a chance of winning a $10 voucher from our sponsors this month, DisDigi Stamps.

Journal52 - The Road Less Travelled

I am way behind with these prompts but here is my version of The Road Less Travelled on Journal52 - as usual I interpreted it my way to fit in with what materials and thoughts I have available!

Calendar Challenge - September

Our two words this month on The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge are Brown and Leaves/Trees.  I got my beer mats altered nice and early this month and used Crafty Individuals images and stamp for these.  I can't believe we only have 3 more months to go this year!

Journal52 - 10 Minute Challenge

I liked this theme on Journal52 from a few weeks ago!  10 Minute Challenge was just about enough time to grab some Distress Inks and colour my page, splatter and blot some water drops and then stamp a few of the stamps from my collection that were easily to hand!

Journal52 - Mail Art

This prompt was from a few weeks ago on the Journal52 challenge.  I think we were supposed to use things that come in the mail for our page but I decided to interpret it literally and used some stamps in my collection that were ideal and some bits and bobs from my stash instead!  I water coloured the large postcard stamp with Distress Inks - I don't think I've used this stamp before and I know I have had it for some years now!

Calendar Challenge - August

Our two words for The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge this month are Pink and Butterflies.  As usual I altered some beer mats for this challenge.  Not entirely sure I am happy with them, but it did use up a few stickers I have had hanging around for some time and I am all for using up old stash!

Journal52 - Kindness

Two pages in a week, I am trying to catch up!  The theme a few weeks ago on Journal52 was Kindness.  I Distress Ink Sprayed the background and used a Crafty Individuals image for my page and found an appropriate quote for the theme.

Journal52 - Elements

Another page for Journal52 from a few weeks ago, the theme for week 26 was Elements.  I Googled images and found this one and added it to a water coloured background and found an appropriate quote so from having no idea on what to do for this theme it came together quite easily when I gave it a bit of thought!

Gruffies & Guest Ch#19 - Lazy Days

I've just posted the halfway reminder over on Gruffies & Guests for Challenge #19 - Lazy Days.  For my DT work I made an ATC using one of my wooden HM stamps and I could later use this as a topper for a card maybe.

We are sponsored by Bugaboo Digi Stamps for this challenge and you could win a fab prize of 7 digis if you take part, so pop on over to the blog!  There is also the option of entering with 'Anything Goes' too as long as you use House Mouse, Gruffies or Happy Hoppers.

J52 - Questions and Answers

Another page for the Journal52 Challenge from a few weeks ago - Questions and Answers.  I went with something light hearted for this one as I love to use my crazy birds stamps, but I honestly can't remember if I have seen this idea somewhere else or it just came into my head, so I apologise if someone else has used this idea before me!

J52 - Small Success

I am playing catch up with Journal52 and am a bit out of sequence but I will get there in the end I hope!  The theme a few weeks ago was Small Success - so when in doubt I find a quote I can use!  I hope it is near enough the theme to count!

Calendar Challenge - July

Our two words on The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge for July are Turquoise and Beach Huts.  As luck would have it I managed to find a beach hut stamp in my collection so that was ideal for this challenge!   I enjoyed making these - now I want to go to the seaside!

Journal52 - Silly Animal Zoo

My second post for today is my journal page for Journal52's theme - Silly Animal Zoo.  As usual I had no idea what to do for this for a while and then had a look through my rubber stamps and found a small lion stamp I have had for years, so attempted to draw a bigger version of him and then water coloured him with Distress Inks.

Gruffies & Guests Challenge #18 - Lavender and Lace

I have just posted the halfway reminder for Gruffies & Guests Challenge #18 for which it was my turn to choose the theme, and I chose Lavender and Lace.  As always there is the option of entering with just Anything Goes too.  I used a HM image from one the the CDs to make my card and some pretty lace design BP from Joanna Sheen which has been in my stash for years!

We have 2 sponsors this time, so you could win a £10 voucher from Crafty Ribbons or 3 digis from Crafty Sentiments Designs, so pop on over and have a go!

Journal52 - Top 10 Lists

Here is my J52 page for the theme Top 10 Lists from a couple of weeks ago.  Although I do make lists they are fairly boring and not really suitable for journalling so I decided to make a list of the top ten things I like to craft - not necessarily in favourite order although the first 4 are!  I used some K & Co tag thingies from my scrapping stash and a nice background stamp of lined notepaper to make this page.  I had stamped butterflies and then spotted a couple of scrap butterflies that I hadn't put away from the last time I used my scraps so on they went!

Calendar Challenge - June

Our two words on The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge for June are Lavender and Dragonflies.  I made my altered beer mats using a variety of stamps from my stash, embellishing with some dragonfly brads I have had for many years!

Apologies for not managing to visit everyone last month, life got in the way a bit!

Journal52 - Good Advice

I am now a couple of weeks behind on Journal52 but have today made the Good Advice page.  I found a quote which was ideal as it has the words 'good advice' in it and used a couple of Tim's new colour Distress Inks and one of his stencils to make my page.

Journal52 - Outside In

Last week's theme on Journal52 was Outside In.  We were supposed to take a few craft items outside and make our journal page using those but that isn't really possible at the moment, so I decided to do my own thing and find a quote using the word Outside and went from there!  It was also a chance to use one of my new fabulous Crazy Bird Tim Holtz stamps which I finally treated myself to!

Butterfles + D is for Doily

I was delighted to be asked by Mrs. A. to be a Guest Designer for the new challenge on the Butterfly Challenge Blog.  I picked the letter D and Mrs. A. gave me Doily for the theme.  I made a tag using part of a doily which I inked and added various bits and pieces from my stash, including of course a butterfly which I inked and cut out to decorate, and loved getting inky and messy for this!  Pop over to the blog and take part in the challenge and you could be in with a chance of winning a $10 Gift Certificate - all details on the blog.

Gruffies & Guests Ch# 17 - Diecuts With the Option of Anything Goes

I have just posted the halfway reminder for Gruffies & Guests latest challenge, Diecuts with the Option of Anything Goes.  This month we have a fab prize of $10 of digi stamps from Di's Digi Stamps.  I made my DT card using an image from a House Mouse CD and a couple of dies, leaves and flowers.