'What you do speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you say.'
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wednesday 12 June 2019

'Morning all...hope today finds you well and, if you're in the UK, enjoying the 'Great British Summer' - NOT! I'm afraid it's still piddling down here although the temperature has SOARED to a heady 15C! Heavens above, I'll have to remember my suntan lotion when I venture out... 😉  But let's face it, we are used to it and especially here in the North West... I remember years ago  sending my friend in France a card on which I'd drawn a bird in wellies... telling her that the local birds had great need of them at that time. Her response was to send me a big box, in which was a beautiful metal swallow, wearing a raincoat and boots that she'd borrowed from her adopted (Downs Syndrome) daughter's Bratz - it really made me laugh and I still have them. I often visited her in August/September, when the swallows were getting ready to leave France for warmer climes, so that's the reason for her choice of bird.




On to better things...I was delighted to discover that my name had been chosen (randomly) as winner of the recent Allsorts Birthday Celebration challenge - woohoo!!! Here's what I won:
Lots of yummy foils and a laminator to foil with - plus a great book on foiling AND a beautiful tag from the lovely - and EXTREMELY talented - Brenda 😊
Isn't it gorgeous and wasn't I a lucky girl? 
The tag is 'right up my street' at the moment because I've been playing a lot with Lavinia images. 
Thank you so much Allsorts - and Brenda!!! You brought a lovely, wide grin to my face! 

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to blog, but I have lots of hospital/GP/Physio appointments at the  moment because of some back problems... it doesn't half eat away at your life, especially your crafting life!

This week's Allsorts challenge is Fantasy and I do have a card to link, though I confess it's not one I've made this week because in addition to lots of appointments, I made the mistake of starting to tidy and semi reorganise my craft room, so there has been very little going on in there!

I used a combination of Stampscapes, Carabelle Studio and Lavinia images for this little card, using Oxides for my background. I will be back with at least one more entry. I don't need too much of an excuse to play with my Lavinia images!


Last Tuesday, I saw this blog post on one of the blogs on my inspiration list...Snippets.
Karen used a great Brushos technique I hadn't seen before and I just had to try it, so over the weekend, this was one of the things I made. I used an old Hero Arts stamp, which is pretty solid. Not so sure it was that good a choice because the stems are very thin, but I cheated by going in afterwards and adding a tiny bit of white gel pen where they were almost obscured. I do like the results, though. Basically, you just sprinkle dry Brushos on your card, then spray the stamp (in your Stamping Platform) with water and stamp. The water only activates the Brushos the image on your stamp touches, leaving behind a wonderful imprint. It's best to just set it aside and allow it to dry naturally in your Stamping platform.


I will try this again because it's a great technique that I enjoyed doing.

I'm linking to the Everybody Art Challenge with this (ATG), 
Alphabet Challenge's F for Flowers, and to
Make My Monday, where the challenge is Lots of Flowers.

I'm linking the next CAS card to
A Place to Start, Stencil me in, 
Shopping Our Stash's Stencil Me Challenge, 
Time Out's Nature Challenge
 and to

I used an old Paperartsy stamp, after stencilling in Weathered Wood and Broken China Oxides.


This one is for Addicted to Stamps' For a Boy/Man challenge
and
Use Your Stuff's Vintage Challenge. 
I used Artistic Outpost stamps on glossy card - one of my favourites - and a Stampendous words background, plus a Stampendous crackle cube for the outer edge.

Thank you so much for stopping by today

I'll be back soon

Cath
xxx

24 very kind comments from lovely people:

Debbie Mageed said...

Love your pretty creations and the one that you entered at MMM and Alphabet is just fantastic! I will have to try your technique with the Brushos soon. Thank you for playing with us at Make My Monday and the Alphabet Challenge and hope you can join us again soon.

Mrs.B said...

Such a cute swallow in her high heeled boots - she'll definitely need them at the moment!
Fabulous cards and I love the Brusho technique - I don't play with mine enough. Your last AO image is one of my favourites and has adorned many of my Son's birthday cards.
Avril xx

Linby said...

So pleased you liked your Allsorts prize - well done.
A lovely card for this week's challenge and your other cards are great too.
Thanks for sharing with us at Allsorts challenge.
Lynn x
DT

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Lucky you, Cath. Those are fabulous wins. LOVE your cards, too. You do cards SO well.

Ellibelle said...

Congrats on winning that wonderful prize from our Birthday challenge!! And I agree, Brenda's tag is amazing!!

Some wonderful creations from you again this time, especially loving the cute Lavinia stamps scene with the little fairies and wonderful sky. But fabulous work on your other creations as well!
Thank you so much for joining us this week at Allsorts challenge for our Fantasy World theme!

crafty-stamper said...

Love the swallow suitably dressed at last after five days of practically non-stop rain -it was rain free today!!!Congrats on winning the fabulous prize from Allsorts and Brendas beautiful tag.Hope your back get sorted soon.Fabulous background on your first card and off to check out the Brusho technique -but one question what do you do with the rest of the Brushos that the stamp doesn't touch?oops nearly forgot brilliant card
Carol x

crafty-stamper said...

oops posted too soon lol -love the delicate stencilling behind the bird house,Thank you for joining us at A Place To Start
Carol GDT x
Fabulous vintage card and stamp-love the crackle border too
Carol x

Meggymay said...

Enjoy using your gifts Cath. The bird in the high heel wellies and mac is real fun needed for sure in our part of the country.
All the cards you shared today look fantastic .
Yvonne xx

Little Artbee said...

Hello Cath, your cards are all very nice. But I love most the card with the cute little fairies, a dream. I own some Lavinia stamps and love them much too.
Dear Greetings
Sabine

brenda said...

Another bumper post Cath and I don't know quite where to start!

Of course I love the Fantasy card for Allsorts (thanks so much for joining in the fun). I've not come across that Brusho technique but will certainly be giving it a whirl. Your third card is very sweetly stamped over the subtle stencilling and finally a superb masculine card.

So very pleased to read you are happy with your prize and look forward to seeing what you create. Dare I say thought that particular Fairy on the tag is from Inkylicious!!

B x

Neet said...

I so enjoyed your humour at the beginning of this post, yes, the great British weather! Your friend summed it all up with the bird in welllies and coat.
Lovely prize and a gorgeous tag accompanying it - I would have been happy just with the tag as it is so lovely.
But then we get another treat with your first card - the Lavinia one. That background is simply gorgeous and you must show me how to do it sometime. Please.
Thanks for sharing how to do that Brusho technique, that is something I will have a try at myself - just need to find the right stamp. You made one beautiful card there with it.
Then we have the PaperArtsy card - I have that stamp and I think it is so cute but never thought of using it against a background like that. It looks fabulous! You do have some wonderful ideas Cath and this is one of them that appeals to me very much.
Last but least we have the vintage card which is a mix of images which work perfectly. Again I would not have thought of using the text stamp like that but I will try to remember from now on.
Fab work as always Cath, a pleasure to visit.
Hugs, Neet xx

Dawn Phillips said...

Such a lot of lovely projects. I do like you Brusho flowers. I've never used them myself. I may have to have a go. Thanks for joining us at The Alphabet Challenge. Love Dawn x

María said...

I love all the projects you've showed us they are beautiful but I have to admit my favourite one is the one with the fairies, that background is perfect.

Congratulations on winning I'm sure you're going to make wonderful things with those gifts. Hugs.

Rachelle Oltean said...

Such a nice soft stencil treatment for the background on your bird house! Very pretty! Thanks for joining us at A Place To Start!
Rachelle - DT : )

Anonymous said...

You have some fabulous art today Cath but health must be more important, even if going to the doctors is such a pain...I can relate. Our weather today is much like yours I think but now I know why flowers in England (in photos at least) always look so lovely. It must be because of the cooler wet weather. We are having that and my flowers seem to be responding well to it. And that swallow is amazing. I do like it a lot and you must really cherish it. Hope that week hasn't been too horrible. Hugs-Erika

Shona Chambers said...

I hope your Summer gets a bit better!! I'm in New Zealand and last month it was so hot, the average temp was 19 degrees celcius compared to May 2018 which was 7 degrees celcius. Global Warming is definitely real!!! So many amazing cards, wish I had time to create this many. Your card for our challenge is so sweet. Love the soft stencil in the background and the image is so cute with your fabulous colouring. So very glad you joined us at TIME OUT!

Basslady said...

this is fantastic!

thank you so much for playing along with us at make my Monday challenge!

hugs and kisses from germany,
Silvi xoxo

Let's Art Journal said...

Your swallow in the boots and raincoat made me smile, it's a fabulous gift! it doesn't feel like summer at the moment with all the grey clouds but we actually had some sunshine today which made me happy ...lol 😉. Many congratulations on your win and have fun playing with all those goodies! I hope your treatments are helping your back, thinking of you and wishing you well 😀. Your cards are gorgeous and I love the Brusho technique too! Wishing you a happy weekend! Jo x

pinky said...

Wow you have shared such amazing projects!! Well done on your win and your lovely prize. My teamie Brenda is a super talented lady and it's always lovely to get one of her original pieces.

Sandma's Handmade Cards said...

Oooooh, lucky you :) I can just imagine how thrilled you must have been to see your name as the winner. Brenda is amazingly generous and she works so hard in keeping her challenges up and running, and also such fun too. I know exactly what you mean about the rain. We went out for a walk at 8am this morning while the sun was shining as I believe there are thunder storms forecast for this afternoon. Your cards are fabulous and I always love the variety of designs that you post. Take care and learn to love your wellies! :) :)

Nonni said...

Such beautiful, artistic projects here! I especially love the Brusho technique you showed (stamping with wet stamp on dry brushos), it's something I've never seen before and definitely want to try. Thanks for joining us at Time Out!

HilaryJane said...

What a gorgeous set of cards, I particularly like the second and third ones xx

Tina Chianna said...

Oh wow... lot's of fabulous work and techniques. I must have a go at the brusho's one. Your CAS make is gorgeous, so delicate. Thankyou so much for joining us at 'a place to start', look forward to seeing more of your work. Tina Chianna DT

Chana Malkah said...

You have been very, very busy! I purchased a Brusho's set but have never used it. You may have inspired me to give it a go. Love your CAS project! Nice use of the stencil with that birdhouse image! Thanks so much for joining us at A Place To Start!
Hugz,
Chana Malkah, Owner/Designer
A Place To Start Challenge Blog
613 Avenue Create Challenge Blog