Aall & Create meets Sweet Poppy, Stampin Up and a Victorian poet

And now for something completely different.   I have long been a fan of a verse called Invictus.  Written by William Ernest Henley, it was allegedly a poem which kept Nelson Mandela grounded during his 18-year imprisonment on Robben Island.  It is a poem full of strength and promise against adversity and it speaks to me. 

I first applied gesso then acrylic paint to a blank canvas and stencilled the Aall & Create compasses and Sweet Poppy octopus and bubbles directly on to the painted surface. Having planned my layout, I formatted the verse to fit around my intended images and printed it on to tissue paper.  I then stamped my images directly onto the tissue before adhering the tissue to the canvas with Fusion medium. The small clipper ship, compass and anchors, are all by Stampin Up.  I restamped some images on to white card - notably the Aall & Create ship's wheel with it's perched hornbill and the large blue anchor from the "Navigate Home" set, added colour with my Copics, fussy cut them and applied them on top of the original inked image.  

I added an additional hand coloured Sizzix die cut of a toucan to the large blue anchor and a tiny bit of turquoise texture paste through another die cut to give a bit of texture.  I'm not sure I like the colour of the texture paste.  Worried I would make a mistake after all my efforts, I decided to leave it there although I feel sure there is room for more on this piece.   

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp - Make your own background

Watercooler Wednesday -#305 Helen's Anything Goes with a masculine twist

Timeout - #179 "You"

Stamping Sensations - More favourite stamps.  I just love this nautical set by Aall & Create

The Male Room - #46 Animals

Path of Positivity - #87 Anything Goes with the option of a Positive Twist

Crafty Creations - #417 Anything Goes

And because the verse might not be so easy to read in the photographs of my project, I have included William Ernest Henley's poem entitled "Invictus" below.

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul.

Dandelions

My card this week uses this fantastic cutie called Dandelions from Mo's Digital Pencil which I have coloured with Copics and Promarkers.  Have you spotted the huge mistake?   I must have twisted her when I glued her down and I had absolutely no idea she was so crooked until the image panel was stuck fast and too late to fix although I did add some ground to the other  side in the hope it made her look like she was sitting in a little dip in the grass.  Hey ho, if a card is going to be perfect it may as well be shop bought.  Isn't half the delight of a handmade card that it looks a little handmade?

I have teamed her this sweet girl with these delightful Tangerine papers from My Minds Eye, a Marianne Design dandelion clock die and some flowers and a tag made with Papertrey ink dies.  There are also some leaves from Poppy Stamps I believe

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Passion for Markers -#574 Fave Colour combo.  Actually I have several favourites but yellow red and aqua blue is definitely one of them.
Cute Card Thursday - #660 What's New - Its the first use for my image and also the dandelion clocks which I cut from vellum.

Aud Sentiments - #266 Anything Goes

Watercooler Wednesday - #304 Kath's all about occasions; and 

Simon Says Stamp - Layer it Up

It's not too late to join in with our "Anything Mo's" theme at Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge.  We so enjoy seeing your creations.  And check out Mo's other sites where there is lots of inspiration from my teamies.

* Dream Team Blog HERE for inspiration

* Mo's Facebook Clubhouse HERE, and

* Mo's "Patreon" Page HERE 

Daniella and Jeffy in July for Everybody Art & Mo's Digital Pencil

How I wish the UK winter was behind us, together with this terrible virus.  I want to be here with the Hubster on Siesta Key beach in Florida like Mo Manning's Daniella and Jeffy in July. 

I took the photo of the beach on a previous trip to Florida and have merged it with these two cuties before colouring them with Copics and teaming them with these pretty summery papers.  

If I can't be in the sunshine on the beach then what better place to be than in my Craft Croft making cards.  I am super delighted to have been asked to be a guest on the Design Team at Everybody Art Challenge.  Thank you Andrea.  This is a two-week challenge every other Tuesday and the theme from today is "Anything Goes"

Our January theme at Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge is "Anything Mo's" as usual.  Why not pop along to Mo's Digital Pencil store and find some cuties to play along with us.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafty Creations - #417 and Cute Card Thursday - #668 - Anything Goes

Krafty Chicks - #541 Stamp Act

Simon Says Stamp, Sweet Stampin and Make my Monday - #139 who all want to see 

Something New.  I have showcased Jeffy on his own before but Daniella is new to my cards.

Happy New Year. No time to be Grumpy!

Happy New Year!   My card this week uses this fantastic Dwarf 7 image from Mo's Digital Pencil which I have coloured with Copics.  You can find him here.  He is part of a set and I have previously showcased Dwarf 2 and Dwarf 5 which I have also included below because they are all so darn cute! My die cut barrel and the rope are by Marianne. My papers are by Glitz.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:
Cute Card Thursday - #667 Anything Goes

Sweet Stampin - New (my image is new onto a card-  it is the first time I have used this guy);

Krafty Chicks -#540 Anything Goes; and

Path of Positivity - #87 Look for the Positive (I feel sure my sentiment fits the challenge) 

We have just started a new "Anything Mo's" theme so you have plenty of time to join in the fun at Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge.  We so enjoy seeing your creations.  And check out Mo's other sites where there is lots of inspiration from my teamies.

* Dream Team Blog HERE for inspiration

* Mo's Facebook Clubhouse HERE, and

* Mo's "Patreon" Page HERE 

And here is a reminder of previously posted cards using Dwarves 2 and 5 which form part of the set.

Seas 'n Greetings

Here in the South East of England where we are in Tier 4 Lockdown restrictions, Christmas is all but cancelled and somehow feels a bit like this!

I have used a single Magnolia bauble stamp which I masked multiple times, coloured with Copics and glazed with Glossy Accents.  The star of my card though is this magnificent Sweet Poppy Stencil Octopus.   

Eat your heart out all of you fans of the lovely Sweet Poppy Stencil bauble which I have seen everywhere this Christmas - octopuses are for Christmas too!  

I am entering my card into the following challenges;

Sweet Stampin' - Last Minute Christmas

Watercooler Wednesday #302 - Marsha's Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday #665 - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Christmas Critters

Everybody Art - #481 Christmas Animals

Crafty Creations #416 - Anything Goes; and 

Creative Inspirations - Ho, Ho, Ho

Little Birdies

I had this great idea to print some of Mo Manning's adorable Little Birdies in different sizes to represent family members rather like those cute little stick figure bumper stickers I've seen. 

Then I thought I would do no line (very faint) printing and watercolour the birdies.  What was I thinking?  I'm very unpracticed at no line colouring and I am a complete novice at watercolour and so my cards which I needed quickly to post abroad took much longer to make than I anticipated and I feel I had only limited success.  

Hopefully the recipients will be tickled to see their names under each robin and will forgive the crudeness of my artistry.   

I cut a Memory Box house scene from the top section of my card and inked the sky with Distress Oxides.  I added some splatters over the robins with my Posca pen.  Even splattering is much harder than it looks! 

I started with couples and then added family members one by one.  I made four in total. 

You still have time to play along with our "Anything Mo's" theme at Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge this month.

I am entering my card into the following challenges;

Sweet Stampin' - Last Minute Christmas

Watercooler Wednesday #302 - Marsha's Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday #665 - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Christmas Critters

Krafty Chicks -#538 CAS (and thank you for the win last week); and 

Make My Monday #138 - Make your own Inky background (thank YOU for my win last week)

Stamping Sensations - Anything with Wings

Crafty Creations #416 - Anything Goes; and 

Creative Inspirations - Ho, Ho, Ho

Gnome Oddvar

This wasn't the card I had planned to post today but the weather here in the south of England has been just horrible and I can't get a decent photo of my creations because the light is so bad.  I had already photographed and delivered this card so it was safe to post.   

I have never previously been much of a gnome fan but Mo Manning's gnomes this year have really tickled my fancy.  Perhaps it's because when I look at them - I see my friends.  Gnome Oddvar comes with his pal, Nils, here.   Oddvar looks like my friend Chris who said in March he wasn't going to shave off his beard until the pandemic was over.   I have enjoyed making a few of these tall thin cards with Mo's gnomes coloured with Copics, cut out and adhered over a stenciled tree.  I made the stencil with my Cricut and teamed it with a Woodward number stencil.  The number 25 is a Tim Holtz Bigz die, the star is by Memory Box and the "December" is Stampin' Up.

We always have an "Anything Mo's" theme at Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge.    Do come and play along with us and check out the work of my fabulous teamies.  It's worth also checking out Mo's Dream Team Blog here and there is an opportunity for you to show case your cards in Bella and Bronte's Facebook Clubhouse here too. 

I am entering my card into the challenges at 

Sweet Stampin' Let it Snow, Simon Says Stamp Monday - Ice Cold and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Let it Snow (There is sparkly holographic stickles snow on the ground of my card but I realise it might look like grass in the photo)

Krafty Chicks #537 Christmas

Creative Inspirations - Ho, ho, ho 

Make My Monday #137 Christmas; and

Crafty Creations #416 Anything Goes

Summer Story

My card this week uses Mo Manning's Summer Story.   Given that the sun is barely making it out of bed these days here in the south of England where it has been dull, foggy, and dark, I thought it was a good time to use this cutie in her summer clothes and matching face covering (which comes separately by the way so you can use this image after the Pandemic too).  I teamed her with some lovely Prima papers and some fun cloud dies.

I am entering my card into the following challenges;

Simon Says Stamp - Fun with Dies

Krafty Chicks -#536 Stamp Act (my card last week was a winner at KC - thank you);

Crafty Creations #416 and Cute Card Thursday # 663 - Anything Goes and 

Aud Sentiments - #265 Anything Goes with a Sentiment

Why not come and play along with our Anything Mo's theme at Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge.  We would love to see your creations using Mo Manning's fabulous images.

Birthday Bunny

I absolutely do not believe that it's Tuesday, 1st December.  Where on earth did November go? 

My card this week uses this gorgeous Birthday Bunny image from Mo's Digital Pencil.  This cutie was one of many monthly Freebies that are available to Patrons of Mo's Patreon Page which your can find here.  There are three levels of Patron to choose from with a minimum of just $2.50 per month!   

I coloured my Birthday Bunny with Copics and used some flowers from my stash, a variety of leafy dies and a stamped ticket together with these pretty Authentique design papers.  

I am entering my card into the following challenges;

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Krafty Chicks -#535 All Occasions; and 

Aud Sentiments - #265 Anything Goes with a Sentiment

Happy Crafting!

On a Snowball

My weeks are flying by and I can't seem to keep up.  How about you?   
My card this week uses this gorgeous On a Snowball image from Mo's Digital Pencil.  You can find her here.  I think she looks super cute in her little pink and green outfit.   My tag is by Papertrey Ink.  It's one of my favourites.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:
Cute Card Thursday - #660 Wintry

Crafty Creations - #415 Anything Goes;

Krafty Chicks -#533 Christmas

Creative Inspirations - Winter Wonderland

You still have plenty of time to join in the fun at Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge with our "Anything Mo's" theme for November.  We so enjoy seeing your creations.  And check out Mo's other sites where there is lots of inspiration from my teamies.

* Dream Team Blog HERE for inspiration

* Mo's Facebook Clubhouse HERE, and

* Mo's "Patreon" Page HERE 

Angelina's Balloons

Here is a fun image called Angelina's Balloons.  You can find her in Mo's Digital Pencil Store.  I just used her face, hands and balloons.  The image you buy is in fact of a whole little girl in a cute dress.

I printed her in a no lines format and coloured her with Copics.  The bunting is by Joanna Sheen I believe.   As we are Locked Down here in parts of England I also added a home made coordinating paper mask to keep Angelina's celebrants safe from CoVid.  Here is Angelina wearing the mask I made. 

I'm sorry about the photo quality.  The weather was horrible when I took my photos but I needed to send the card. Now, my desktop computer seems to have died so I'm on a laptop I don't often use.

We always have an "Anything Mo's" theme at Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge.    Do come and play along with us and check out the work of my teamies.  

I am entering my card into the challenges at 

Watercooler Wednesday #296 Michelle's Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist

Aud Sentiments #263 Anything Goes with a Sentiment

Krafty Chicks #532 Stamp Act; and

Crafty Creations #415 Anything Goes

Celebration Disrupted with Peter, Sylvia and Sit Elements

2020 will be a year to be remembered for all the wrong reasons.  So much illness, so much loss and sadness and, for even the lucky ones, so many celebrations disrupted.  For my card today I have used Just Peter, Just Sylvia and Sit Elements and merged them all together before colouring them with Copics and teaming them with these pretty My Mind's Eye Lost and Found papers.  One of the many draws (pun intended) for me of Mo's Digital Pencil images is that the uber talented artist, Mo Manning, sometimes offers extra elements to enable the unique merging of her images.  Had I wanted to, I could have popped Sylvia on the tuffet or the chair from Sit Elements.  However, if you would just like a grumpy littlun on a step then it is possible to purchase Peter on the Step or Sylvia on the Step ready to go.

My card is for our very good friend in Prague and the sentiment reads "We are sad we cannot visit you".  I am entering it into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes;

Aud Sentiments - #263 Anything Goes with a sentiment;

Krafty Chicks - #531 Anything Goes (Happy 10th birthday btw!)

Gnomes Nils and Bjarni

I have been enjoying having my very talented friend Nikki come to play in my Craft Croft on a regular basis in the last couple of months.  She has definitely had a positive influence on the way I view my projects and she comes with some fun toys of her own for me to try out.   

This card is the result of using two of her stencils.  I laid the number stencil down first and the tree on top and inked through both simultaneously.  Then I printed, merged and coloured up Nils from Mo Manning's Gnomes Nils & Oddvar and Bjarni from Gnomes Bjarni and Folke before cutting them out and adhering them at the bottom of my "Christmas tree".  

The die cut star is Memory Box and the numbers are Tim Holtz.  Love those numbers and I don't think I've ever used them.  The December is from Stampin Up Perpetual Calendar.

You still have time to play along with our "Anything Mo's" theme at Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge this month.

I am going to enter my card into the following challenges:

Krafty Chicks #530 - All Occasions;

Cute Card Thursday #657 - Stamping;

Make My Monday #134 - Masculine;

Everybody Art #478 - Calendar (I used a date); and

Anything Goes at Creative Inspirations and Crafty Creations #414

Belated Birthday Sloth and Peeking Sloth on Time to Celebrate

After five successive gnome posts, I'm on a 'Go-Slow' with these fun sloths.   Belated Birthday Sloth comes with a separate empty handed Peeking Sloth who looks just the same but isn't wearing the hat nor enjoying the noise maker.  I flipped Peeking Sloth so his dangling arm was on the opposite side and tipped him over slightly to merge with Belated Birthday Sloth.  These fun cuties were supposed to represent the hubster and me to our grandson who just turned 8.

Don't forget we have an "Anything Mo's" theme at Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge and we would love for you to grab a Mo Manning image and come and play along.

I am additionally entering my card into the following challenges:
Seize the Birthday # 201 - Anything Goes with optional  use your Scraps
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations #414 - Anything Goes
Make My Monday #133 - Orange as dominant colour; and 
Everybody Art #477 - numbers

Hedda, Tini & Alma proving that There is no business like Gnome Business

I can't get enough of these gnomes.  Can you tell?  

My card this week uses Hedda, Tini and Alma available from Mo's Digital Pencil.  The little sentiment on the tag is from Gnome Sayings and I have additionally used some bakers twine and a Memory Box Pointsettia die which I have owned for at least 3 years and have never used before.

I coloured these ladies with Copics and added sparkle to Alma and Hedda's hats and to Tini's dress with some Wink of Stella. We have an "Anything Goes" theme with a Mo Manning image at 

Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge and we would love for you to join in the fun with us.

I am additionally entering my card into the following challenges:

Sweet Stampin - Use your old stash (the die);

Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes;

Cute Card Wednesday - Dies & Punches;

Crafty Creations - #414 Anything Goes;

Watercooler Wednesday # 292 Anything Goes with a Feminine Twist (all my gnomes are ladies this week);

Krafty Chicks - #528 Christmas; and

Simon Says Stamp - Make it Sparkle (I hope you can see the sparkle in the second pic)

By the way can anyone tell me how I can stop the new blogger changing my fonts arbitrarily throughout my post?  It's driving me nuts!