Let Heaven and Nature Sing

Hello and welcome! 

The challenges are starting up again today at Allsorts challenge and it's my turn to host this week. I thought it would be fun to see your interpretation of the theme "Spots and/or Stripes".  You may use patterned papers, stencils, stamps, embossing and any other creative way to add spots or stripes. We have a wonderful prize from  Highlight Crafts (Perfectly Potted die set with co-ordinating Reflections and tickets to Crafting Live Peterborough) so hope you can join us for your chance to win!

Here is what I made adding both spots and stripes:

These stamps are all from Penny Black (Holly Berry Bird and Nature Sings - those two are new to me and were from more recent releases. The script I stamped on the bottom portion is Penny Black's Christmas Story large background stamp, this is several years old but comes in to handy, "let heaven and nature sing" is part of the Nature Sings stamp set. The large sentiment on the top left is Penny Black's Season's Gifts, my favorite Christmas sentiment set a few years old.

I decided to include some branches onto the card, that die set is also from Penny Black - Blustery. I left them white as if they were snow covered.

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I colored with Distress inks but then used Faber Castell Pencils for some more detail. The card front was inked with Iced Spruce Distress Oxide ink and I flicked white Posca Pen ink onto the card for some more spots/ snow. 

The patterned papers I used on the right side I found in my box of paper scraps and I have no idea who the makers are. Gold cord and gold and silver sequins were added as embellishments. I love to mix metals (just ordered this pretty necklace for myself :) so I used both gold and silver sequins.

I once again used the Peace on Earth mood board as inspiration (the colors), this time in plenty of time to share with the challenge too :) I've also used inspiration from the back of Nature Sings stamp set by PB designer Jill Foster, she used both the holly berry stamp set and this cardinal on her card, I just added a few extra details to my card.  

I've also used inspiration from the sample on the back of Nature Sings stamp set by PB designer Jill Foster, she used the same cardinal on her card, and maybe even the same holly berry stamp. I just added a few more details to my card. Of course her card is stunning and beautifully colored like a painting!

Thanks so much for visiting!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Recent post you may  have missed:

Christmas Mice

I plan to link up here:

Peace on Earth Christmas challenge //  We Love Stamping - Anything Stamping // Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Use PB Stamps // Aud Sentiments Challenge - Christmas with a Sentiment // Craft Rocket Challenges - Dots and Stripes // Krafty Chicks - All Occasions // Moving along with the Times - Leaves // Christmas Craft Creations - Ribbon or Twine // Paper Shelter - Woodland Creatures // Word Art Wednesdays  - AG // Paper Minutes - Stripes // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - AG // Path of Positivity - AG // 

Always AG:

A Place To Start - AG // Taylor Made Cards 4 U // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Creative Moments // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends 

Link Parties:

Dare to Share //  Sunday Showcase - First Sunday with Ada and Mireille  //  Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri //  Random-osity Good, Random, Fun //  Travel Tuesday. // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Spread the Kindness Linkup @ Shelbee on the Edge // Wonderful Wednesday // My Corner Of The World //Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life //  Funtastic Friday //   Link Up On The Edge

Christmas Mice

Hello everyone,

At Allsorts challenge we are pausing for another week as the UK is mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II (the challenge blog is UK based) so there will not be a new challenge tomorrow. But we will be back on September 24th.

In the meantime I didn't want to keep my personal blog "dormant" for such a long period so I decided to share one of the cards I had made recently which was meant for one of the postponed challenges.

Maybe not the best choice of sentiments for the time being but as I used liquid glue it would have torn the card up a bit if I tried removing it. 

The stamp set is new to me by Colorado Craft Company (Wonderful Time). Image was stamped with Versafine Onyx on Bristol Vellum and colored with Distress inks and Zig Clean Color markers. I distressed the edges of the image panel for some interest.

The sentiment is part of the same stamp set and I used a retired Whimsy Stamps ticket die to cut it out (similar products). "Stars" are part of  Penny Black's Dancing Snowflakes die set, but these look like stars to me so I made them golden and added glitter. 

Papers were a most recent crafty purchase, not that I needed any new patterned papers but it had been a while (years!) since I bought any and I just saw Hobby Lobby had their new Christmas crafts out...

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My card was inspired by the most recent Peace on Earth challenge (a year round Christmas challenge) where they always offer an optional mood board as inspiration. I love mood boards as they do help me get started so I did use it as you can surely see.

 Unfortunately this challenge is now expired so I won't link up there.

I feel like this card could use some twine or something but I had trouble figure out a placement so I left it off.

Thanks so much for visiting!

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This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Linking up here:

Peace on Earth - Christmas and optional mood board challenge expired// We Love Stamping - AG with Stamping // CCEE Stampers - circles/ dots/ etc. // Craft Rocket Challenges - dots and stripes // Simon Says Stamp - little critters // Critter Crazy Challenges - Critters // Crafty Animals - Crafty Animals // Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Patterned Papers // Digi Doodle Studios Challenge Blog - Sparkle // Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - Christmas // The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up - Fur // Christmas with the Cuties - Cute Christmas // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - AG // Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Die Cuts // Dare 2B Artzy Challenges - Animals // 

Always AG:

A Place To Start - AG // Taylor Made Cards 4 U // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Creative Moments // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends 

Link Parties:

Dare to Share //  Sunday Showcase - First Sunday with Ada and Mireille  //  Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri //  Random-osity Good, Random, Fun //  Travel Tuesday. // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Spread the Kindness Linkup @ Shelbee on the Edge // Wonderful Wednesday // My Corner Of The World //Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life //  Funtastic Friday //   Link Up On The Edge

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - September Challenge (and August Top Picks with a Twist)

Hello and welcome to Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday September challenge taking place right here on my blog! I'm so glad you stopped by and hope you'll join in too!

There were many fabulous entries last month, thank you all for joining in with me! Lots of wonderful inspiration and even though it was hard choosing my top picks with a twist I had lots of fun doing so! Be sure to scroll down to see last month's Top Picks with a Twist!

As a reminder, the  theme is now always....

Anything Goes

and instead I will choose a "top pick twist".

So feel free to link up all your new or recently made crafty creations for a chance to be featured next month. As mentioned, the Top Pick features now will follow a theme/twist but nobody knows what that will be until the end of the month (not even me) and will be inspired by YOUR creations. Will it be something you incorporated on your project? As always, the linky tool is at the end of the post.

Remember, you may share any type of craft as long as it is handmade by you!

Here is what I'm sharing this month:

The background was done using Rustic Wilderness and Twisted Citron ink and the smooshing technique. Then I stamped Lavinia's Trailing Ivy using Fern Green Archival ink  and the Hedgehog from the clear Penny Black set Wonderful using Versafine Onyx. I colored the bouquet of flowers with my Zig Clean Color markers.

I stamped the hedgehog again on Bristol Vellum paper, colored with Zig Clean Color markers and fussy cut only the hedgehog to add to the card with foam tape.

The sentiment is an oldie from Stampin Up (I have no idea which set it's from), also stamped with Archival ink and I used a retired die from Whimsy Stamps to cut it out. Some green gingham ribbon and jute twine was used to attach it to the card. I found the little butterfly (from Penny Black's set Soaring) already cut and inked in my box of extras so I added it to the card. The color matched that of the small flowers in the bouquet so it worked out well. 

       

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

         >>>>>Mixed Media Sale at Scrapbook.com/Ad

I'm sharing the card with these challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Use PB Stamps // Everybody-Art-Challenge- AG // Crafting Happiness Challenges - Add a sentiment // Double Trouble Challenges - 3/2/1 Recipe (green, yellow, turquoise, ribbon, twine, PB Stamp) // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - AG // Path of Positivity - AG // Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Stamp It // 613 Avenue Create - Leaves // Dare 2B Artzy Challenges - Animals // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - AG // Crafty Calendar - AG // Colour Crazy Challenge - Coloring // Krafty Chicks - Stamp Act // Moving along with the Times - Leaves // Critter Crazy Challenges  - critters // Crafty Animals - Animals // 

Always AG:

A Place To Start - AG // Taylor Made Cards 4 U // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Creative Moments // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends 

Link Parties:

Dare to Share //  Sunday Showcase - First Sunday with Ada and Mireille  //  Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri //  Random-osity Good, Random, Fun //  Travel Tuesday. // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Spread the Kindness Linkup @ Shelbee on the Edge // Wonderful Wednesday // My Corner Of The World //Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life //  Funtastic Friday //   Link Up On The Edge

Last Month Top Picks with a Twist:

As mentioned previously, there is now a Top Pick Twist when it comes to my selection of Top Picks. Nobody knows what the twist will be - not even me - until the end of the month as the twist will be totally inspired by YOUR creations. This means the top picks will all have something in common. 

The Top Pick Twist from the August entries is ............Keeping It Neutral! Meaning all my August Top Picks will feature neutral colors. Who knew neutral colors can make such beautiful creations! 

And here they are listed in the order of entry:

No. 63 Helene

No. 64 LoopyLoo

No. 75 Francesca

Congratulations to each one of you! Fabulous work! 

Your Top Pick logo is below. Feel free to post it to your own blogs.

I will continue to pin the top picks to the dedicated Pinterest board, but will also include photo and link back to the original blogs/sites here. These will be removed at the start of the new challenge to stay in compliance with GDPR.

To join in this month please use the linky tool below. You have until September 30th 11:59 CST to play along!

A few things to remember:

• You may combine with any other challenges.

• You may use any brand of stamps/digis/products (no company restriction).
• No more than 3 entries per person please so I can manage to visit each entry.
• Please do include a link back here to my blog in your blog post.
• Backlinking to a recent post IS allowed.
• Digital products are allowed and very welcome but the final piece has to be a physical handmade creation, not just digital.

Recent Amazon Prime Purchases and a Perfect Pair of Petite Friendly Jeans from Target

It's been a while since I joined the Amazon Prime linkup, even though we've purchased quite a few things, I just never got around to writing up a post so here I am today sharing a few of the things we purchased over the last several months. A random mix of things ... At the end of the post I'm also sharing a new pair of jeans perfect for petites I recently found at Target and how I worn them to an orchard.

1. Anthony's Diastatic Dry Malt Powder. 

I've been making lots of bread over the last few months, mainly using this and this no knead recipe but I wanted to try making my own authentic German farmer's bread and I needed this powder for it. I made one of these breads so far and while it's easy to make this recipe does require kneading, thankfully I have my KitchenAid stand mixer to do the hard work for me.

2. Heatless Curling Headband

My daughter saw this on Tik Tok and wanted to try it for herself.

3. Hair Pins for Ballet Bun.

Couldn't find the color she needed at the local shop so Amazon came to the rescue!

4. Strathmore Visual Art Journal .

I've been wanting to start art journaling for some time now (been doing a few pages over the years but didn't have an actual book. So decided to purchase this one, sadly I haven't started yet but do love the smaller size (6x8.5 inches) and it's great quality mixed media paper. 

5. LG Computer Monitor.

My son wanted this for use with his laptop for the bigger screens. He's been happy with it.

6. Drawstring Curly Hair Ponytail.

My daughter needed some curls for her part in the Cinderella Ballet that needed to be even shorter than these. I didn't want to cut into her more expensive Nutcracker curls so I purchased these. Thought they were a good quality and about half the price I paid for her Nutcracker curls a few years ago from Sally's. 

7. Cubicer Computer Desk.

My son loves this desk. 

8. Brusho Crystals Color Set.

These have been on my wishlist for years, finally decided it's time to give them a try. Easy to use and so much fun!

9. Tutu Bag

Another item needed for ballet. This worked perfectly for my daughter's professional sized ballet tutu. 

Not from Amazon but I am so excited to have found a perfect pair of jeans for petites from Target and wanted to share. (If you are petite then you will know how hard it is to find jeans that aren't too long!!!)

These are the Universal Threat Crop Jeans in a light wash, available in 3 different lengths. I am wearing the "regular" lengths in size 0 and am approx. 5' 2" tall, 37" hips and 28" waist. (I'm sharing this info in case you'd like to get them for yourself and it might help you decide what size you need).  If you are shorter you may find the short works better and if you are taller you might prefer the long lengths. 

For sizing references, the size 0 regular jeans has a 9.25" rise and 26" inseam. I may choose to cut about half an inch off which will be easy to do since these are a raw hem jeans. I had also ordered the "short" version but those were just too cropped and I wanted more of an ankle lengths.

Universal Threads Jeans

The jeans also come in a dark wash and I have them on order. (Edited to add: I have now received the dark wash and while the fit is the same as the light wash, I find the dark wash to feel a bit stiffer, not as soft as the light wash and I plan on returning the dark wash.) Unfortunately neither the light or dark wash are available in store, at least not at mine. This light wash pair above is my first pair of Universal Threads jeans and so far I'm happy with the quality and they are less than $35!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

I'm linking up here:

Tanya at The Other Side of the Road // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // Thursday Favorite Things // Shelbee on the Edge Linkup // Sunday Showcase (first Sunday) with Ada and Mireille

Friday: Fancy Friday hosted by Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style // Lizzie in Lace //  Friday Favorites at Penny's Passion // A Little Bit of Everything // Friday Favorites // A Fireman’s Wife // Shelbee on the Edge //  Fabulous Friday Link Up with Lucy  // A Morning Cup of Joe

Saturday: Dare to Share

Sunday: Style Splash linkup // Sunday Showcase (first Sunday) //  You're the Star Blog Hop Link Up @ Stonecottage Adventures

Monday: Glass of Glam // Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // 

Tuesday: The Fashion Canvas // Shelbee On the Edge Spread the Kindness // I Do deClaire // Elegantly Dressed and Stylish // Myriad Musings // Jenerally Informed Happy Now Blog Link // Style Splash linkup // Tuesday with a Twist @Stonecottage Adventures // I Will Wear What I Like Linkup  // Randomosity - Good Random - Fun

Wednesday: What's Up Wednesday? (last wed. of month) // The Queen in Between Style Six // Straight A Style // Jersey Girl, Texan Heart // Is This Mutton? Wow on Wednesday // Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday

Thursday: Mummabstylish //Thursday Favorite Things //  Little Things Thursday // Traffic Jam Weekend @Being a Wordsmith // Slices of Life (Encouraging Hearts and Home) // Ageless Style Linkup 3rd Thursday

A Double Sided Bookmark for Allsorts School Days Challenge

Hello and welcome! 

It's time for a new theme at Allsorts challenge and we are back to our regular (weekly) schedule now. It's Dena's turn to host and she chose the optional theme of "School Days". I don't make "back to school" cards anymore but thought a new bookmark would be wonderful and useful too so I made this double sided bookmark for my daughter. She can use it in her Honors American Studies class which also involves reading and book discussions. 

This is one side using Lavinia's Creeping Vine stamp along with Grace (small size) and Spiral of Spells. I created a bit of a scene with homemade masks out of copy paper and used this Penny Black stencil too. The beautiful crinkle ribbon in dark gray/black was part of a prize I won from DLArt challenge. You can this ribbon in Diana's shop here. 

Below is the other side. I did get some ink onto the background on the first side so decided to use a separate piece of card stock for the other side and then glue them together, which also makes the bookmark a little bit sturdier. I could have laminated it but I like the feel of paper instead of plastic. 

Here I used Lavinia's Spotty Toadstool stamps and Willow set, and once again Spiral of Spells with an inked background and same stencil.

I brushed Wink of Stella in clear over the mushrooms and fairy wings, then added Star Dust Stickles glitter along the edges and the moon.

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I have another (not quite finished) bookmark to share. This was my first try and I didn't like how it turned out after I stamped the ivy all around the edges. I felt like it took away from the beautiful fairy so I had started over. 

I used the same Lavinia products as I did on the first image but slightly different colors.

Would you believe now that it's a few days later I actually like this version a little bit more!!! Guess I'll turn this into a bookmark for myself now :)

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And that's all for today. Hope you'll stop by the challenge blog too to see what the rest of the team made and of course to play along with us! We have a pretty Sizzix die to give away this week!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

I plan on linking up here:

My Time to Craft - Fantasy // Krafty Chicks - Stamp Act // Moving along with the Times - Trees or Leaves // Crafty Friends Challenge - Fairies and Fantasy // Lost Coast Designs - Use at least 3 stamps (fairy, ivy, spiral) //

 

Always AG and Link Parties:

A Place To Start - AG // Taylor Made Cards 4 U // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Creative Moments // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends 

Link Parties:

Dare to Share //  Sunday Showcase - First Sunday with Ada and Mireille  //  Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri //  Random-osity Good, Random, Fun //  Travel Tuesday. // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Spread the Kindness Linkup @ Shelbee on the Edge //  Wonderful Wednesday // My Corner Of The World //Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life //  Funtastic Friday //   Link Up On The Edge