Taking Time for ME....

Today I got to spend some time on my own as hubby went to watch his nephew play rugby... so I got into the craft room and had fun.... I had some cards I had to make....

First up, a new baby boy card for my niece

 I had a kit that I got many years ago but had never used.  It had this pretty paper that was my starting point.   I had the die cut circle on my desk.  The congrats sticker and ribbon came in the kit.  The little rocking horse is from a Penny Black set - again one of had for many years. 

Next up is a card for my Level 2 Altenew Educator Certification Program.  I got waylaid for a while and now am trying to catch up. .  Today I rewatched the Beyond Basics Backgrounds - taught by Lydia Evans.   An awesome class with lots of awesome ideas for up-ing your backgrounds.   I learnt so much from the class.  Lydia has such a fabulous way of teaching.  My card today is a CASE of Lydia's class using DIY stencil to create a background by die cutting and then sponge through the stencil before adding white embossed stamping,  My card is sponged in orange Altenew inks.  I used the matting panel to cut a stripe to emboss the sentiment

I used the Peony Bouquet stamp and die set. 
I am entering this card into the Anything Goes Challenge at The Flower Challenge.  

I also have been meaning for some time to get my Alcohol inks out.  I've been seeing some amazing backgrounds made with the inks and Yupo paper.    My inks are really old... nearly 8 years but I did get them to work.  I also added some spots of cooper foil to some of the spots

I also made a green coloured one as well.  I made up a Christmas card using a Poinsettia stamp.

The sentiment was heat embossed with a Kaisercraft sentiment.    I am entering this one into the August Essentials Challenge - using Alcohol inks

So all in all a good afternoon.  Thanks for sticking with me to the end. 

Family Birthday cards and watercolour flowers

It's been a week since I've posted here... I have been busy at work and doing my exercise that I haven't had much time to craft.   Over the weekend we were up at the Beach with our friends and after a lovely one hour walk with Yvonne, I played around with my pencils and watercolours. 

I made a few backgrounds and did some colouring of some florals with my Altenew watercolours.

Here's one I did for a friend who wanted to use the sentiment.  Hope she likes it.

 I used Catherine Pooler Designs - Grateful Heart stamp set.  I stamped it twice on watercolour paper and fussy cut the flowers to pop up.  

I'm entering this into the Watercooler Wednesday challenge. and Anything Goes at The Flower Challenge.


Today is my Dad's birthday.  I sent off his card over a week ago, but he is still waiting...

and my brother turns 60 on Friday. 

I made the record with the Fine circles die from Altenew. 

Watercolour - Basics and Beyond

Recently I took a watercolour class from Altenew taught by Jennifer Rzasa.   It was great as I had just got my Altenew watercolour pan set.   Jen really made watercolouring fun and the Altenew paints are stunning to use. 

One of the techniques we learnt was to use the watercolour as ink on your stamps.... I tried this with two different Altenew stamps  This first one is using Peony Bouquet.  I used only one layer of both the flower and leaves 

My  second card used Beautiful Day stamp set.  I used different watercolour paints to stamp the flower and leaves and added some freehand elements 
 

 

For my third card I used the technique we learnt to use Embossing with our paints.  I used the Altenew monthly inspiration colours with the Sweet Peas stamp.  Used a bit of watercolour wash around the flowers and of course splatters (a la Erum)

Still a few days homework to do... Did my stencils with a watercolour wash... a bit of a failure there!  But will look at what I can do with the background after seeing my friend Betty rescue her not quite successful attempt.

Thanks for stopping by.

More Ireland photos

Back again with some more photos of our Irish trip

After leaving Portstewart we stopped off in Donegal and visited the Castle

After a stop to wash some clothes at Ballyshannon we headed to to Creevy Pier for the night.

Next morning we headed to Galway.  - First stop was Knock and a visit to the Shrine of Marian

 We arrived in Galway around lunch time to realise we had left Peter's backpack (with his passport in it) and his computer.   It was 2hrs 45 back to Creevy Pier and 2hrs 45 back to Galway - learning for us...make sure you check the room before heading off!

More to come

Silhouette Kitties

A break in my holiday photos to share my first card back for Die Cut Divas.

Our challenge this month is "Silhouette" - and our sponsor is

 

I don't have any of their dies - but believe me, they have some awesome dies..... so I chose a Poppy Stamps die to make this card.

I die cut out the centre panel from some watercolour paper and made a soft wash with my new Altenew watercolour paints in blues.  The two kitties are die cut from black card to make the silhouettes.    The sentiment is from a Clearly Besotted stamp set.  

Thanks for stopping by and please do join us at Die Cut Divas this month for our challenge. 

More Holiday Photos

Next on our trip was a visit to the top of Ireland...via the coast road and a stop at Carrick-o-Reade swing bridge and the Giant's Causeway

We spent the night in a little seaside town called Portstewart.  

Next day we headed off to Bushmill Distillery.  We were there too early for the tour, but hubby had a tasting and got a one on one with the waiter and learnt a lot.

Next stop was Londonderry where we visited the Bogside and saw all the amazing murals

Very moving. 

Thanks for staying with me today... more to come

I'm Back......

WARNING - PHOTO HEAVY

Hi all.... I'm back home after our trip away.... Perth, Ireland, London - England, Porto - Portugal and Dubai.  We had a fabulous time.  So here are a few highlights - from Perth, Dublin and Belfast.  More over the next few days.

Perth:

Had a great time with Archie, Emma and Andrew

IRELAND

Loved this city..

BELFAST:

A very interesting place.  We did a taxi tour around the area where the Troubles were.

Hope you enjoy these highlights.   Still feeling really tired after the long trip from Dubai ... an other early night I think.