Easter Bliss

Tuesday, 28 December 2021

Christmas Cards 2021

I hope you've all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas, just as we did. Lots of food, love and laughter. Santa was very generous to us all and our little princess felt very loved - especially by Santa! The lives of those no longer with us were remembered and celebrated.

Today I want to quickly show some of the Christmas cards that I made for family, neighbours and friends. 

I used two sets of papers that I just couldn't resist. The first is the Let it Snow collection from Graphic 45. I haven't treated myself to G45 Christmas papers for a few years, so this collection was a real treat for me. 

I bought a bundle and other matching bits from My Creative Spirit which included the 12" (30 cm) and 8" (20 cm) papers, plus journalling cards, stickers and the 12" (30 cm) patterns and solids papers.

I made some 6"x 6" (15 x 15 cm) cards and some 5"x 7" (12.5 x 17.5 cm). I used gorgeous matching ribbons from Fantastic Ribbons. The plain card I used for the matting layers is from Limetree Craft.

 I die-cut snowflakes, trees, ferns and poinsettias from dies I have in my stash as embellishments and added gems.

I also used the White Christmas 6"x 6" (15 x 15cm) papers from Craft Box to make some cards. The lovely artwork of this collection really caught my eye. They show some wonderful wild animals in beautiful watercolour snowscapes. All that was needed was some matting card, ribbon and a die-cut sentiment.

All the cards were finished with generous helpings of glitter.

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas, however you celebrated, and you now look forward to a wonderful 2022 with a heart full of hope.


Friday, 3 December 2021

Creative Artiste #78 December 2021

Christmas is all in hand and sleeps til Santa are being counted. Just two more weeks of school to get through, family present deliveries to make and Christmas cards to finish off. Oh, and an excited little princess to keep amused. I'm sure the time will fly.

Meanwhile ....

 ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.
A big Thank You to everyone who entered the challenge last month. Your projects were all fabulous and our winners have been announced on the blog.
Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

I am showing a small canvas I made for Remembrance Sunday last month.

I started by using small portions of an old Woodware text stamp randomly on the canvas. I then added a thin coat of white gesso over the canvas. Once the gesso was dry I rubbed my Antique Linen Distress Ink pad across the canvas to give it a vintage tinge.

I added some small ripped up pieces of music paper with matte gel and then texture paste through AALL & Create stencil #17.

I glued the poppy image to the centre of the canvas and gave it all a coat of clear gesso.

 Using Derwent Inktense pencils Saddle Brown, Bark and Charcoal Grey with a brush and water I painted shadows around the image, music papers and under the stencilled lines. I also painted around the edges of the canvas to finish.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge as many times as you like. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.
Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our 
December challenge. 

 Creative Artiste will be taking it's annual break in January. The team will be back on February 4th 2022 with Challenge #79.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

Wednesday, 1 December 2021

Crafts Galore Encore December 2021

The countdown to Christmas has begun in earnest now. A letter to Santa has been posted and the tree is up and decorated. Just presents to wrap, cards to deliver, food prep to be done etc. But, before I can sort all that ....

.... there is a new challenge starting at

Thank you to everyone who joined in with last month's challenge. The winners have been announced on the challenge blog. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. There is a full list of rules on the challenge blog.

Our theme every month is the popular
"Anything Goes"
and our sponsor this month is:

who are offering a $25 voucher for their Etsy shop to the lucky winner.

I have made a set of four gift tags for my grandchildren's Christmas presents.

The tags are Tando Creative Mixed Media Boards and all measure 5.5" x 3" (14 x 7.5cm) I punched holes in the tops of the tags for the ribbons.

I started by covering the tags with a couple of coats of white gesso. Once dry I added two of the papers from the Merry and Bright ATC collection.

I used the Santa Claus Lane collage set. There are two pages in the collection that are packed with fabulous vintage Santas. I cut out four Santa images and mounted them on white card which I distressed with Antique Linen Distress Ink

I printed colour coordinated sentiments and fixed them to the tags along with little strips of lace. I also added ribbons from Fantastic Ribbons to the tags.

I finished the tags with some wooden decorations which I painted and some coloured gems.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team using Gecko Galz images.
Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in this month's challenge.

You will also find the details of the DT Call for Crafts Galore Encore. So, if you want to join our team, please apply.

Lastly, 
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE
and keep staying safe!

I have entered these cards in the following challenges:

Friday, 5 November 2021

Creative Artiste #77 November 2021

Well I managed to avoid most of the rain this week - apart from a large shower on Tuesday morning! I haven't been able to dodge the chilly temperatures though. I think the cold weather is a good excuse to spend the weekend indoors sorting out all the Christmas craft stuff and getting busy.

Meanwhile....

  ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.
A big Thank You to everyone who entered the challenge last month. Your projects were all wonderful and our winners have been announced on the blog.
Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

I finally got around to using an art supply that I've been hoarding for awhile.


This little piece is to give me inspiration in moving from darkness towards the light. I have found this year very hard to cope with following a personal tragedy. Creating art has largely been difficult and I need to remind myself that I can, and will, get back to finding enjoyment in my artwork.

This project is in a Tim Holtz Trinket tin. I've had two of the tins for a while (Thank you Pam) and loved them as they are but I finally took a deep breath and started creating in one. I still can't bring myself to alter the outside of the tin though.

I started by dabbing texture paste in the bases on both sides and continued up the sides of the yellow half. While the paste was still wet I pressed some mini cogs into it. I wrote out the words on a Post-it note and cut them up.
On the left hand side I used Purple Passion and True Blue DecoArt acrylics to paint over everything. Once that was dry I lightly brushed over with a Prima Aged Brass wax and added the words.

The lightbulb is a car headlight bulb and the ring is the empty roll from some tape. (I'm sure I'm not the only person who saves random pieces to use in artwork!) They were set in place with soft matt gel.
I then used Luscious Lemon and Bright Yellow DecoArt acrylics plus Slate Grey and Storm Cloud Grey. Finishing with some gold acrylic paint accents.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge as many times as you like. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.
Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our November challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

Monday, 1 November 2021

Crafts Galore Encore November 2021

 Brrr! A chilly start to November with tumbling temperatures. Too much rain around as well. Half term holidays last week weren't a complete washout though and I managed to keep the kids amused without too much trouble. I even got some Nana cuddles with the new baby. Now it's back to school and routine. And the start of preparations to that BIG day in December. 

But first ....

 .... there is a new challenge starting today at

Thank you to everyone who joined in with last month's challenge. The winners have been announced on the challenge blog. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. There is a full list of rules on the challenge blog.

Our theme every month is the popular
"Anything Goes"
and our sponsor this month is:

I have made a couple of Christmas cards. These cards are both 6"x 6" (15 x 15 cm). 

I layered one with blue and white card 

and a single layer of red on the other.

I used the small snowman and the large sentiment from the Snow Globe Family on both cards, printing the images out to the size I wanted. I coloured the snowmen and backgrounds with my Copics.

I also printed two of the trees from the Tree Scene digi set and coloured them with Copics for the red card.

I added some die-cut trees and snowflakes and painted on some Glamour Dust for highlights to finish the cards.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team using Jan's Digi Stamps images.

Friday, 1 October 2021

Creative Artiste #76 October 2021

 This is my second post of the day. Please scroll down for my Crafts Galore Encore Christmas card.

 ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.
A big Thank You to everyone who entered the challenge last month. Your projects were all wonderful and our winners have been a
nnounced on the blog.
Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

I'm not quite ready to welcome Autumn so I've made a tag in pretty summer colours.

The tag measures 4"x 7" (10 x 18cm). I started by covering the tag with a thick layer of texture paste. Before the paste dried I pressed a bottle top into it to create a random pattern.

I then used Caran D'Ashe Neo water-soluble wax crayons (Thank you Pam) and water to colour the tag.

I used Distress Oxides in Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade and Spiced Marmalade to colour some baby wipes and left them to dry. I then die-cut layers of petals and stitched them together to create the flowers.

I coloured a piece of card with orange, yellow and pink acrylic paints then die-cut a Cheery Lynn flourish and an angled piece of card for the sentiment. I tucked a piece of string into the arrangement to finish off.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge up to three times. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.
Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our October challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

Crafts Galore Encore October 2021

Well, September proved to be another exciting month as we welcomed a new baby, our fourth grandchild, to the family. A beautiful little girl arrived all pink and shiny and our little princess is happy now that she's not outnumbered by the boys, ha ha.

But, before I sneak off for another Nana cuddle ...

 .... there is a new challenge starting today at

Thank you to everyone who joined in with September's challenge. The winners have been announced on the challenge blog. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. There is a full list of rules on the challenge blog.

Our theme every month is the popular
"Anything Goes"
and our sponsor this month is:

I have made my first Christmas card of 2021.

The card is 8"x 8" (20 x 20cm). I used red card for the base layer and to mat the circle. The papers are from an old Papermania Christmas collection.

I used the Pony Christmas digi and coloured it with my Copics before die cutting the circle.

I printed the sentiment on the computer, cut it in a banner shape and layered it onto red ribbon from Fantastic Ribbons. I also used the ribbon to make a matching bow.

I embellished the card with some holly die-cuts and a poinsettia. I finished with some green gems.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team using Hetty Clare Art images.
Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in the October challenge.

Scroll up for my Creative Artiste challenge post to see a colourful mixed media tag.

Keep staying safe everyone!

I have entered this card in the following challenges:

Friday, 3 September 2021

Creative Artiste #75 September 2021

Well the summer was fun packed and we managed a little holiday and lots of lovely days out. We also celebrated a little princess's birthday and a big princess's engagement! Like I said, fun packed. But it was back to school for the little princess yesterday and back to routine for me. Fortunately it's the weekend tomorrow so we can readjust to the changes slowly. 

Meanwhile ....

  ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.
A big Thank You to everyone who entered the challenge last month. Your projects were all wonderful and our winners have been announced on the blog.
Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

I have made a canvas this month to show you. The canvas measures 12"x 9" (31 x 23cm). 

I started by stamping with the text stamp Vintage Note from Stampendous then I added some texture paste through stencil #17 by AALL and Create. Next I played with some DOX Reinkers and water. I used Spiced Marmalade, Cracked Pistachio and Mermaid Lagoon. I kept blotting the colours with a cloth until I was happy with the blends.


Once dry I added strips of lace from my stash and three flowers using the Inkylicious Oriental Poppy stamp on watercolour card. I used the Spiced Marmalade Reinker with water to colour them. These were all fixed to the canvas with Matte Gel.


I finished the canvas with an old Bee Crafty word stamp Faith and darkened the edges with black ink.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge up to three times. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.
Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our September challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

Wednesday, 1 September 2021

Crafts Galore Encore September 2021

That was a busy and fun summer. The time just flew by and the weather was kind to us too, including for the little princess's birthday. The trampoline was apparently the best birthday present ever and has kept our little girl amused all summer. All good things come to an end though and tomorrow is back to school.

But before then .... 

 .... there is a new challenge starting today at

Thank you to everyone who joined in with August's challenge. The winners have been announced on the challenge blog. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. There is a full list of rules on the challenge blog.

Our theme every month is the popular
"Anything Goes"
and our sponsor this month is:
who are offering two digi stamps from their store to our lucky winner.

I have made a 7"x 7" (18 x 18cm) card to show you.

I did my usual thing with a Copic pen to create the pink backing for the card base. There is a layer of pearlescent card behind the pretty paper from an old LOTV pad which I cut in different widths to fit across the card.


I chose to use this lovely image called For You and coloured it with my Copics. I trimmed it and mounted it on card coloured with a matching Copic.


I added a stamped sentiment and finished the card with some some pink gems.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team using All Dressed Up images.
Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in the September challenge.

Keep staying safe everyone!

I have entered this card in the following challenges:

Friday, 6 August 2021

Creative Artiste #74 August 2021

A lot of the current Covid restrictions are due to be lifted in Wales this month. Booking is still essential for most of the local family attractions in order to keep numbers of people mixing to safe levels. As the weather is predictably rainy this weekend I'm just going to look online at activities to amuse our little princess.

Meanwhile ....

  ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.
A big Thank You to everyone who entered the challenge last month. Your projects were all fabulous and our winners have been announced on the blog.
Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

This month I have done some colouring with a difference.

This is a small canvas board. It measures 5"x 7" (13 x 18cm). I scribbled all over it with Crayola wax crayons. I then used my heat tool to melt the wax colours. I used a clean dry cloth to rub over the melted wax and went back over some areas while the board was still hot to add more colour and reheat.

I used a white Posca pen and Aall & Create stencil #87 randomly over the canvas. I added some extra details and lines with the with the white pen and a black Posca pen.

I then splashed some gold acrylic paint randomly all over the board.

I decided to fill in the larger stencilled circles and used Versamark and Aged White Frantage to do this.

The canvas reminded me of how scattered my brain has been recently so I added a suitable stamped sentiment with foam pads.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge up to three times. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.
Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our August challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

Sunday, 1 August 2021

Crafts Galore Encore August 2021

 Welcome to August and hopefully some lovely summer weather. Now the kids are off school it's more fun for them to be outside. Holidays are tricky at the moment but, fortunately, there are plenty of local activities to keep everyone amused. And for those not so nice days, there's plenty of craft supplies for everyone. Before I organise some crafty projects ....

 .... there is a new challenge starting at

Thank you to everyone who joined in with July's challenge. The winners have been announced on the challenge blog. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. There is a full list of rules on the challenge blog.

Our theme every month is the popular
"Anything Goes"
and our sponsor this month is:

Who are offering a $10 AU store voucher for our lucky winner.

I have made an 8"x 8" (20 x 20cm) birthday card to show you.

I didn't have the right colour card for my matting layers so I created some by using the chisel end of my R85 Copic pen on white card. The pretty papers are from the First Edition Mulberry Kisses 12" (30cm) paper pad.


I wanted an image to go with my paper so I used my graphics program to print just the flowers from the Shabby Chic Roses digi set. The flowers are on the birdhouse image. I used my Copics to colour the roses. I fussy cut them out and mounted them onto white card with foam pads.


I had printed the image out twice and I coloured two more of the roses. I cut them out and added them to a stamped birthday sentiment with foam pads.


I assembled all the card pieces adding lace, gold gems and finishing with a seambinding bow I'd coloured with Picked Raspberry DOX.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team using Beccy's Place images.
Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in the August challenge.

Keep staying safe everyone!

I have entered this card in the following challenges: