9 December 2014

Slight technological hitch.....

I'm in the process of setting up a new laptop,
unfortunately getting to grips with Windows 8
whilst dealing with a heavy cold is not working out too well,
so I'm blogging with old pinky, hoping she will keep going for a bit longer!


With me snuffling away and an ailing laptop I think this card is
quite appropriate.........
and for anyone else feeling a little under the weather
at the moment!

Nurse Nancy by CC Designs
Copic & coloured pencils
Plasters/Bandaid - Quickutz
ribbon & papers from stash

laptop permitting I should be back with more soon

thanks for dropping by

1 December 2014

I am back with a challenge

Oh yes, I finally got to play with markers on Saturday....
.....it has been far too long and I had an absolute blast!

So lets get going with a new challenge

WITHOUT WORDS 
"Christmas Present" (Modern Look)

and here is my interpretation
CC Designs Roberto's Rascals: Santa's Ride
Coloured in Copic markers
with a dash of white pencil

and our sponsor is

gif maker

Now, for a chance to win please make sure your card is
CLEAN & SIMPLE
and post it 

I have just come back from a fantastic holiday in Orlando, celebrating my birthday with my hubby!!
The old batteries are re-charged and I'm ready to get down to some crafting.....


Thanks for dropping by


14 October 2014

It's raining, its pouring!

Hi there, how are you?

Have you been crafting up a storm?  
 I wish I was!!

There was me thinking that with our son back at University I would have more me time and the opportunity to finally get back to all things creative!!

Ha ha, the truth is I haven't picked up a brush, marker or pencil in weeks......
I've been busier than ever, just not with fun stuff!

But I don't want you guys missing out as well as me so here is one I created earlier

Pip by Emerald Faeries
Coloured in pencils on kraft

here she is in close up....

With the amount of rain we had on Monday this image is quite apt!

Thanks for visiting


6 October 2014

Without Words October Challenge

First Monday of the month....must be time for a new challenge
we want to see anything spooky

So what did I come up with.....
well due to a distinct lack of male cards in my stash box I opted for a wizard

Stamp - Wiz by Mo Manning
coloured with Caran D'Ache Luminance and Pablo's on kraft
Make it Crafty chippie
gold rope and papers from stash


Crafter's Companion
are our wonderful sponsors this month
so for your chance to win a voucher to spend in their store
please post your entries HERE

Thanks for dropping by and I look forward to seeing your entries


26 September 2014

Oh you idiot!

Do you remember Clueless?
normally when painting in watercolour I try and get the background done first....
but on this occasion I thought I could be clever and do it afterwards - what an idiot, basically I wrecked him!

I was livid with myself, what was I thinking!! 
so here is Clueless II
complete with "mushy" background!

Clueless by SCACD
Painted in Watercolours
DP from stash

Update.....from some of the comments you've made I didn't explain well enough that the second image is "totally new" - I painted the background and then Clueless the second!
Here is what is left of the original Clueless - I tried to cut him out because I had messed up the background so badly but watercolour paper is very think & I was struggling to do it neatly!!

I hopefully won't make that mistake again!

Thanks for dropping by
have a great weekend


24 September 2014

Twice as nice!

 Migraine monkey finally vacated my head........check
Harvest completed.........check
Son gone back to Uni........check

well, you know what that means don't you????

I'm back, I'm crafting and I have quite a few creations to share
so lets start with........

Scrapberry - Our Summer

Here is my first in Copic

and then my dear, sweet friend, Squirrel sent me some of those scrumptious Winsor & Newton Watercolour Markers which I used to create this version
as a thank you.......

 the little puddy tat had a make-over as I tried to turn him into Vince
Hopefully I got close Squirrel xx

Ooh it feels good to have something to share!
So keep watching folks 

Hugs


1 September 2014

Fires, birthdays and more

Life has been a rollercoaster over the last few of weeks...where shall I start?

Harvest time is a challenge at the best of times
but this year's been a doozy........









Our poor tractor burst into flames whilst waiting at traffic lights.
Thankfully our driver got out unharmed, unfortunately as you can see the tractor was not so lucky!

If you look carefully you will see that the heat was so intense it actually melted a traffic light!


After all that excitement we celebrated our son's 19th Birthday
and I baked this cake 

"Pigs in mud"


(inspired by some very talented bakers online)

and........
 Pip and I passed our Bronze Star Dog Training Award
woo hoo!!!!

Oh and I have managed to sneak a few hours in the studio
so will have some new stuff to share very soon.

Thanks for dropping by
have a great weekend


Without Words Challenge for September

Chasing my tail, bloopers galore......ever felt like this?

Eek, this post should have gone live 2 hours ago but my plans to write it last night went to pot as I spent the evening ferrying son from one farm to another so he could escort our combine harvester!
Oh the joys of being married to a farmer at this time of year!

Anyway, better late than never eh.


This months challenge theme is

It's a Celebration

and here is my creation

Henry Claus - by CC Designs
Copic and Pencil on Stamping Linen

Here is Henry in close up

I've had a lot going on lately and completely forgot we'd been asked to use an image from our sponsor Make it Crafty.........sorry Zoe xx



so here is an example of a Christmas card I made using MIC digis 
(albeit last year)


Come join in the fun - remember, any celebration will do
Post your entries HERE
where you will also find some inspiration from my talented teamies

Back later for a little insight in to what I've been getting up to 



4 August 2014

Without Words Challenge for August

Hello there, yep it is that time of the month for a new challenge over at 
Without Words

the theme is
"Anything Clean and Simple Goes"
(Choose from a previous theme)

cool eh!

I chose to use 
 January 2014 Challenge - Spots and or Stripes


Here they are in close up

"Did you hear" by Mo Manning
in coloured pencil on kraft

Our sponsor this month is


so go on have a go - you have lots of themes to choose from and you never know you could be the lucky winner of a £10 voucher to spend in the store!

Please post your entries HERE


Well that's all folks!

I'm probably going to be a little quiet this month with the old blogging as we are in the midst of harvest and the boys are keeping me very busy - so lets hope the warm, sunny weather stays so hubby can get the crops harvested uber early!



24 July 2014

Water Colour Markers

Have any of you tried Winsor & Newton Water Colour Markers yet?


I have been lucky to have the opportunity to do so over the past couple of days
and I have to say I am rather impressed.

For anyone who is interested, they have a brush tip at one end and a small bullet tip at the other.

And here is what I created

Clueless by SCACD

Now I confess this is not pure water colour marker, I have filled in the colour gaps with a couple of tubes of Winsor and Newton Professional Water Colour which blended with the markers seamlessly.

Off for an ice cream to cool down - loving the sunshine.


23 July 2014

Tally ho

Oh boy, I have been struggling to get this post written, for a while now I have been unable to upload images via IE but today Blogger is being a pain even on Chrome - it's driving me nuts!

So here is a quick post with a cute image from Nellie Snellen
hope you like it

Scoffie's Skating
(coloured pencils on Winsor & Newton smooth surface heavy weight cartridge paper)


Thanks for dropping by
here is hoping Blogger behaves when I come back with my next post!


14 July 2014

Trying something different....

Crafting has had to take a back seat since Pip arrived in February
but as she's got older she has become more accustomed to staying in her playpen
and is now quite happy to snooze for a few hours whilst I work.

But when she was teething I was not getting much work done so I set to tidying my studio.  
 Whilst sorting out my art cupboard I came across my old box of watercolours and brushes.

Can you believe it, it has been 10 years since I last painted!!

Thankfully most of my kit was still OK, a few brushes had had it but a quick visit to my favourite on-line art shop soon fixed that and as they had on offer on paints I splurged on a few extra tubes too!


It took me weeks to complete as I had to fit it in when Pip was snoozing.
What do you think?

The image is
CC Designs - Valentine



I am definitely out of practice mixing skin tones, but hey that will come with time - all in all I am pretty happy with my first painting in a decade.


 I have a few new pieces of work I intend to share 
mainly pencil as its been the easiest to pick up and put down with a puppy in tow
but it is about to get manic in the Allen house as hubby is out in the combine for the first time in 2014


  so my plans may yet get scuppered, 
my poor old washing machine is working over-time - how can two men get so filthy?
Ben is trying to lessen the laundry issue by ripping two pairs of trousers (beyond repair) in as many days
and of course I'll soon be traipsing round the countryside delivering dinner to them and our men
when harvest gets into full swing!!


Thanks for dropping by


12 July 2014

Fearless Fairy Tales Beauty and the Beast


Little Miss Muffet Stamps
are releasing a new set of images called
"Fearless Fairy Tales"
and I was thrilled when Barbara asked me to showcase one on my blog
and here it is..........

Beauty and the Beast


It would appear I bucked the trend and opted to use pencils on kraft instead of markers
(For those who like the details I used a combination of Caran D'Ache Pablos, Caran D'Ache Luminance and Faber Castell Polychromos)

Here they are in close up

I had such fun with that dress, trying to get "realistic" folds, and as for the Beast's fur - a challenge but one that I am pretty darned happy with!

and finally......

a black and white "arty" shot!


If you like what you see here don't forget you can see all the fabulous creations made for this launch by clicking on the links at the top of this post or why not visit
Little Miss Muffet Stamps Store
Little Miss Muffet Stamps Challenge Blog
and
Little Miss Muffet Gallery




2 June 2014

Without Words Challenge for June

Here come the girls!

Well cards for them anyway.......as this months theme is
Femme Fatale

so lets get inky, splatter some paint, sharpen those pencils and have some feminine fun
BUT
please remember we require your entries to be clean and simple
froo froo and bling just ain't our thing!!!

How many of us recognise that look?
You've secretly splurged on more crafting goodies and hubby gets to the post before you can whisk away the package or you put on a new dress which of course has been in your wardrobe for ages (make sure you've removed the tags!!).............


SUPPLIES
Guilty May by Mo Manning
DP Country Lady by Lili of the Valley
Copics:
Dress E30, E31, E34, W0, W2, W3, R000, R00, W1, G12, G40
Skin E0000, E000, E00, E40, E41, V20, R12, B34, RV32
Hair E51, E53, E55, E47
Shoes R000, R01, R02, G12
Tights YR30, E40, W2
Ground W0, W1
ribbon from stash

and this month our lovely sponsor is 


Please post your entries HERE

Thanks for dropping by