#200 Dogs and/or Cats in The Male Room as a Guest Designer!

Well Hello Peeps!  Please forgive my long absence and my late post.  Way back in January, I was honoured to have had my Thank You card selected as a winner by the lovelies at The Male Room team.  As a result, they asked me if I would like to be a Guest Designer this month and of course I was delighted to agree!  

The Hubster had a full knee replacement on 4 January and I spent the first three months of this year as his carer.  Fortunately, I was able to make a couple of cards during that period and this is the one, using Mama Elephant's The Cat's Meow, which I created for this month's Dogs and/or Cats Challenge at The Male Room.  It's their 200th challenge and I am privileged to be amongst a great team of current and guest designers this month.

Just as Tom's knee had improved sufficiently for him to begin doing more, we embarked on a major reno project to swap our study for our kitchen and vice versa.   This meant we had to move everything out of both rooms and re plumb and rewire ahead of the change.  Some of our "stuff" went off site but much of it has been in our dining room and in my craft space for the last 4 months which has made it all but impossible to craft.    To complicate things further, we left the country 3 times to escape the upheaval, our internet repeatedly failed to connect in it's new space, my laptop had a melt down, and a phone upgrade left me with access to only half my apps! This post should have gone live yesterday but I've only just got my head around the technological failings so I'm really sorry to be a day late!

I'm really hoping our reno is now in it's final stage. Splash Backs go in before the end of the month. It will be great to have a fully functioning new office and brand new kitchen, and, importantly, to get back to crafting and blogging for the Design Teams at Everybody Art and Mo's Digital Pencil from which I have been absent for too long.  I just need to get the non-crafty "stuff" out of my craft space and get the blind, which fell down while I was shifting boxes, mended and rehung.  It's 35C (95F) in my craft attic currently without the window blind and I can't even contemplate being in there.

Hopefully I'll be back crafting and blogging more regularly soon.  Until then, I look forward to seeing your own Dog and/or Cat creations on The Male Room blog HERE

Gracious Flower Power!

We have a new theme for "NEW" at Everybody Art Challenge and we would love to see your creations. Do check out the wonderful inspiration from my teamies and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.  You can interpret this as a New Something - new home, new baby, new job, etc.  I have simply used products that are new to me - this fabulous postage die from Waffle Flower and also my new Memory Box Gracious Florals stencil.  I loved making this card with it's Altenew stamped and heat embossed sentiment. My inks are a mix of Stampin Up and Altenew. 

Tom and I are having some work done in the house.  It's going to look great but the process is stressful.  So many decisions to make over the last year and now the work has started, virtually the entire contents of my kitchen are in storage and the entire contents of our study/office is all over the house but mostly in the dining room and in my craft room as we swap rooms so that the office becomes the kitchen (it is the much bigger room) and the old kitchen gets cut in half with part of it becoming the new study.  I really can't get to my craft desk where overflow boxes from the study are scattered and I may have to take a month off my card making whilst work continues.  We left home for 12 days when the work started but it will be ongoing for a further 5-6 weeks and I'm not sure how we will cope!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

The Flower Challenge #101-Use Spring Colours

Four Seasons April - Spring

Stencil Fun Challenge - April- Anything Stencilled, optional patterns

Tic Tac Toe #268 - i have used the first column - stencil, any colour, flower

Time Out #286 - Words challenge pick at least 2 from the selection.  I chose stencil & flower

   

I've Got Ewe Babe

This is the third time I have used "Sheep" from Mo’s Digital Pencil to make a mixed media card using alcohol markers to colour shrink plastic, and combined the image with a Stampin Up spatter stamp, a Papertrey Ink die cut frame and some punny text.   There is something about this image which I love.  I only used two of the sheep and two of the hills today.  I always ask and receive permission from the lovely Mo Manning to alter her images in any way.  I wasn't able to ask if I could use the lyrics to Sonny Bono's sweet song and I hope it's okay! 

There is a Facebook page where members can upload their Mo Manning creations HERE.  

And check out the Dream Team Blog where there is lots of inspiration from my teamies HERE.    Mo's "Patreon" Page is HERE. There are four levels of Patron to choose from.  The lowest tier is absolutely FREE and there are FREE digi images to be found!  Paid membership starts with a minimum of just $2.50 per month (plus tax where applicable) which gives you more FREE images and coupons too!  

Before I go, I would like to remind you of our "Funny Photo or Stamped Image" challenge at Everybody Art Challenge 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #155 Always Anything Digital Goes

Crafter's Cafe - #317 Anything Goes optional CAS

Creatalicious  #287 Anything Goes optional Easter or Spring

Dragonfly Dreams - April - Animals

Four Seasons - April - Spring

Inkspirational -#338 - Word Prompt to use 2 sentiments

Just Us Girls #769 - Die week (I used a frame but with Eclipsed text over and under it)

Passion for Markers -#782 - Anything but birthday

We Love to Create Mixed Media #4 Always anything mixed media goes

 

Shawshank Jailbreak!

For my card today I used this fun stamp which I think might be from Michaels' Recollections collection.  I have already put the stamp away in my stash.  This bird is clearly dressed up for some shenanigans and quite rightly lives in my Halloween section which has subsequently been blocked in by multiple boxes I am trying to store from my Study while it is undergoing refurbishment.  My house is in a terrible state at the moment with boxes absolutely everywhere!   I have used a distressed stripy background stamp to match the bird's disguise.

We have a new theme for "funny photo or stamp" at Everybody Art Challenge and we would love to see your creations. Do check out the wonderful inspiration of my teamies and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.  I love this little jail break bird which I have teamed with a die cut "In a Gilded Cage" from Crafty Individuals which comes with the floral branch.  I decorated the cage with some shimmery gilding wax and a fun sentiment from Tim Holtz snarky Ideology.   We in England spell "Defence" correctly of course but I can forgive this spelling because Tim is a legend and these sentiment strips are so funny!

By the way, if you would prefer to see my cards on Facebook, please look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE 

I am sharing my card at the following four blog sites:

Just Add Ink #744 Just Choose Two - Flowers and shimmer (using gilding wax on the cage)

Krafty Chicks #761 - Masculine

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Anything Goes

Time Out #Inspired by Fave Movie - Shawshank Redemption.  Time Out has a super prize this week - one of Claire Brennan's stamps.  I was such a huge fan of her Waltzing Mouse stamps and I'm so happy to see her actively creating fabulous images!  

Edited to show my appreciation to the lovely Time Out team who nominated my card for their honour role! Thank you!

 

Moo

For my card today I have used this lovely image called Moo from Mo’s Digital Pencil.  I coloured this beautiful girl with Polychromos pencils, embossed around her, added a couple of die cut banners, a punched heart and a scalloped frame.

It's easy to find lots of places to find inspiration and share your own creations using Mo Manning's lovely images.  Just take a look at any of my recent posts showcasing cards from Mo's Digital Pencil for details.  

Before I go, I would like to remind you of our "Lots of Layers" challenge at Everybody Art Challenge 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Can you Handle the Pressure #3/25 Anything Goes (with optional fave colour), its not my favourite colour but this cute cow sure looks sweet against the Kraft cardstock

CD Sunday Plus - #154 Always Anything Digital Goes

Colorful Options - March - Pi Day (I have been inspired by the colours of the MOOd board and possibly what looks like a milk shake!) 

Creative Inspirations - March - Always Anything Goes

 

Generating some Birthday Love with Lots of Layers

We have a new theme for "Lots of layers" at Everybody Art Challenge and we would love to see your creations. Do check out the wonderful inspiration of my teamies and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

Our dear friend supplies and fits generators for homes and businesses and this was a card a made for him.   I used a Tim Holtz 3D embossing folder for the background but the generator is made up with layers of dies and punches.  I used robot parts, car and truck wheels and even the spout of a whale to create my own version of a generator.    It was lots of fun!  

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Can you Handle the Pressure March - Anything Goes (twist of lucky or St Patrick's Day)

Creatalicious #287 Anything Goes (optional Easter/Spring)

Creative Inspirations - March - Always Anything Goes

Make my Monday -#247 Use a die or a punch

Maggie with Penguins

I'm late with my post today but I'm certainly early for Christmas!  I have owned this image from Mo’s Digital Pencil, called Maggie with Penguin, for ever but this is the first time I have coloured it.  It will not be the last!  She is gorgeous and a dream to colour. You can find her in Mo's shop HERE

I am not sure which papers I have used - I found them loose in my Christmas papers box.  The adorable die cut penguins are from Memory Box.

If you would prefer to see my cards on Facebook, please look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE . If you are creating with Mo Manning images, there is a Facebook page where members can upload their creations HERE.  If you are looking for inspiration for your Mo Manning images, look no further than the Dream Team Blog HERE.     Most importantly,  Mo's "Patreon" Page is HERE. There are four levels of Patron to choose from.  The lowest tier is absolutely FREE and there are FREE digi images to be found!  Paid membership starts with a minimum of just $2.50 per month (plus tax where applicable) which gives you more FREE images and coupons too!  

Just as a reminder of the other challenge where I am on the Design Team... our theme is "Boy/Man" at Everybody Art Challenge 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #153 Always Anything Digital Goes

Make my Monday -#247 and Passion for Markers -#779 Die or punch (penguins, circles and scallops)

The Paper Players #728 Pastel vibes 

  

Edited to add a little happy dance for having been selected in the top 5 by the lovelies at Make My Monday!  Thank you!   I'm chuffed!  

 

King for a Day

We have a new theme for "a Boy" at Everybody Art Challenge and we would love to see your creations. Do check out the wonderful inspiration of my teamies and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.   

I've been feeling poorly these last few days and I must apologise for being late with my post.  I used this amazing Aall & Create #122 stamp set and combined it with a simple checkerboard style stencil for my card. I love combining stencils and stamps!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

AAA Birthday #71 Masculine

Just Us Girls #764 Anything Goes with a Stencil

Krafty Chicks #757 - Masculine

Simon Says Stamp (Mon) - Fave Technique (combining stencils with stamps)

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Anything Goes

Stencil Fun Challenge - Mar - Anything Stencilled, optional spatters

 

Edited to add a happy dance that my card was in the top selection from the Lovelies at Krafty Chicks!  Thank you! 

Champagne for Two

For my card today I have coloured this lovely Champagne for Two image from Mo’s Digital Pencil.  Mo drew a full length image but I cropped this beauty so the focus would be on the Fizz! 

I followed the Sketch at Paper Players, colouring my image with Copic markers and teaming  her with two strips of designs papers from Glitz over card I embossed with funky hearts.  The sentiment, from Taylored Expressions, is heat embossed.  Only partially visible in the photo but very noticeable IRL are her shiny glazed champagne flutes and lip gloss and her Wink of Stella sparkly dress and belt.  

There is a Facebook page where members can upload their Mo Manning creations HERE.  

And check out the Dream Team Blog where there is lots of inspiration from my teamies HERE.    Mo's "Patreon" Page is HERE. There are four levels of Patron to choose from.  The lowest tier is absolutely FREE and there are FREE digi images to be found!  Paid membership starts with a minimum of just $2.50 per month (plus tax where applicable) which gives you more FREE images and coupons too!  

I showcase my cards on Facebook too, please look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE if FB is your preferred media. 

Before I go, I would like to remind you of our "Baby or Child" challenge at Everybody Art Challenge 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Can you Handle the Pressure #Feb 2/25 Anything Embossed Goes optional masculine (which obviously I didn't do this week although I suspect that this cutie would appeal to the boys IRL)

CD Sunday Plus - #152 Always Anything Digital Goes

Crafter's Cafe - #316 Anything Goes optional spots or stripes

Tic Tac Toe #264 I used the bottom row - heart, markers, embossing

Time Out #282 photo inspiration from which I chose the colours of red and black

Edited to add my joy for having this card selected in the top 3 at Can you Handle the Pressure.  I have so many embossing folders and it's so nice to have found a challenge which encourages me to use them!  Thank you ladies!

 

A little Llama Drama

We have a new theme for "Baby or Child" at Everybody Art Challenge and we would love to see your creations. Do check out the wonderful inspiration of my teamies and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

I found this Wild Rose Studio Birthday Llama stamp in my stash and thought it would be perfect for a soon to be 5 year old.  Coloured with Copics to give it a fluffy texture (one that I'm not sure I could achieve a second time) and with lots of bright colours and the obligatory birthday number, it was fun to make.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafter's Cafe - #316 ATG with optional spots or stripes

Love Those Pretty Papers - Feb The Colour REd

Polkadoodles #3 - Always Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday#299 - Add a heart (or a full set of banners with hearts in my case)

Birthday Love Flamingo

Mo’s Digital Pencil's "Patreon" Page HERE has four levels of Patron to choose from.  The lowest tier is absolutely FREE and my image today (which comes full length with an absolutely adorable fairy) was January's FREE digi image available for a limited time to every member. I cropped it for my polaroid style framing and used just the head of the flamingo. I always ask and receive Mo's permission to alter her already perfect images in any way.  You can join Mo's Patreon group at the lowest tier for FREE.   Paid membership starts with a minimum of just $2.50 per month, plus tax where applicable, and offers additional free images and coupons too.  It's sooooooo worth it to get your hands on some of Mo's highly acclaimed images.  This one called "Every Day is a Gift" is not currently available in Mo's shop.

There are lots of Valentine's challenges around but I decided to go with a Birthday Love theme rather than romantic love.  I coloured the image with Polychromos pencils and I  stamped the leaves around the die cut frame.  A ribbon and a little Papertrey Ink die cut tag with a kraft heart and stamped "Love" were the finishing touches. 

By the way, if you would prefer to see my cards on Facebook, please look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE 

Just as a reminder of the other challenge where I am on the Design Team... our theme is "Dies or Punches" at Everybody Art Challenge 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #151 Always Anything Digital Goes

The Color Throwdown #826 pink brown (I used kraft) and white

Crafter's Cafe - #315 Anything Goes optional Birthday

Just Us Girls #761 Dies - Add a Heart

Krafty Chicks #754- Birthday

Make my Monday -#245 Love

Passion for Markers -#774 All About love

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Love is in the air

 

Bandaids and X-rays - Knee & Ankle

Just over four weeks ago, the Hubster underwent full knee replacement surgery.   This is the card I made for him.  He is now recovering nicely although it's been a pretty hectic time for me because the poor guy has been so limited in what he can do safely for himself.  He has needed help with even the most basic things like washing and dressing and his pain at night has kept us both from sleeping.  Fortunately we have turned a corner and whereas I am still the shopper, food preparer, driver and carer, he is able to do more for himself and we are both looking forward to continuing improvements.

We have a new theme for "dies or punches" at Everybody Art Challenge and we would love to see your creations. I used this stitched frame die which I cut out of design paper and mounted on several cardstock frames, together with a bandaid and heart die from Papertrey Ink.   My spatters and hearts stamped in the background are Stampin Up and I think the sentiment is Simon Say Stamp.  Do check out the wonderful inspiration of my teamies and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

The above is one card in a series of bandaids and x-ray cards.  The knee x-ray came from a Recollections vellum paper back. The foot is a digital image from the internet printed on vellum.  Below is a card I made when the recipient broke her ankle.  The stamped diecut frame is Papertrey ink, the tags are a Stampin Up punch and the bandaid is Lawn Fawn.   I also stamped the envelope.

I have a Facebook page if you are interested... look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE 

I am entering one or both of my cards into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #141 Always Anything Digital Goes (the foot xray is digital)

Creative Inspirations - Jan - Something Old Something New - I have used all older products for my cards 

Cupcake Inspirations - #610 Add a tag

Dragonfly Dreams - Feb - CAS

Krafty Chicks #753 Anything Goes

the Male Room #194 CAS

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - Anything Goes

Edited to add my gratitude to Lori and the lovelies at Cupcake Inspirations for selecting my broken ankle card in the top picks.  Thank you!  

 

Girly Girl Candy!

For today's card I have used this lovely Girly Girl Candy image from Mo’s Digital Pencil

She is just so darn cute!    I'm pretty sure the papers are First Edition and my sentiment is Taylored Expressions.   I coloured Candy with Copics.

There is lots of inspiration from my teamies on Mo's Dream Team Inspiration blog HERE and Mo has a Facebook page HERE.   It's a great place to hang out and ask questions about Mo's work, and some of my talented teamies have started producing videos of themselves working on Mo's images.     In even more news... Mo's "Patreon" Page is HERE. There are four levels of Patron to choose from.  The lowest tier is absolutely FREE and there are FREE digi images to be found!  Paid membership starts with a minimum of just $2.50 per month which gives you more FREE images and coupons too!  

By the way, if you would prefer to see my cards on Facebook, please look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE 

Just as a reminder of the other challenge where I am on the Design Team... our theme is "Anything Goes" at Everybody Art Challenge 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #150 Always Anything Digital Goes

Crafter's Cafe - #315 Anything Goes with optional Birthday

Creatalicious - #285 Anything Goes with optional love is in the air

Creative Inspirations - Sept - Always Anything Goes

Love Those Pretty Papers - Jan - Something Old or Something new

Polkadoodles #3 - Always Anything Goes

Edited to show my huge appreciation to the lovely team at CD Sunday where I love to play along for selecting this card in their top picks.   This winning smile was a winner!  

 

Thank You

My lovely teamies at Everybody Art Challenge surprised me with a change of date for our first challenge this year.  The speed at which I needed a card seemed like a good opportunity to go more CAS in styling, and I utilised a design introduced to me by Karen Telfer at a crafty class I attended almost 5 years ago.   Karen Telfer has a Facebook Page HERE and has You Tube videos HERE too.  

Our theme at Everybody Art Challenge is "Anything Goes".  Do check out the wonderful inspiration of my teamies and share some love with the Design Team by leaving comments on their blogs.

My card features a Toadstool/mushroom stamp by Lavinia in addition to the stencilled circle and Thank You stamp, and also an old Joy craft Autumn Toadstool/mushroom (from a border) die, and simple frame.

By the way, if you would prefer to see my cards on Facebook, please look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge - T is for Thank You 

Creative Inspirations - Jan - Something Old (Mushroom and Frame dies) or Something New

Krafty Chicks #751 - CAS

the Male Room #194 - CAS

Simon Says Stamp (Wed) - CAS (featuring Hero Arts)

Sweet Stampin - Thank You cards

Edited to say a big thank you to the great teams at Alphabet Challenge and The Male Room for selecting my Thank You card in their top picks lineup.  I'm delighted!  

 

 

New stash, New Year and New Baby

We returned from Florida on 31 December.  I came back with the same respiratory bug that I took with me and which is still plaguing me sadly.  The hubster had knee replacement surgery on 4 January so these last 10 days have been spent visiting him on a daily basis and then coming home to rest from my own exertions.   I'm hoping that in the words of the pop group D:Ream "Things can only get better"!

My friends at Everybody Art Challenge are still enjoying their Christmas vacation but challenges will recommence on 28 January 2025. 

Today I have used this sweet "Big Brother" image from Mo’s Digital Pencil which is available in her shop HERE.  Mo has a curly haired version HERE. And there are Big Sister versions too HERE.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE how inclusive Mo is with so many of her images.

My card was made to welcome baby Daisy Grace to the lovely family of some very dear friends of ours.  Daisy's big brother Jacob is thrilled with his new baby sister.  I used some old dies which had previously remained unused (so they were still new to me) in addition to this new stamp 

There is a Facebook page where members can upload their Mo Manning creations and we look forward to seeing you there. It's easy to become a member.  Just click HERE.  And check out Mo's Dream Team Blog HERE for inspiration from my teamies.    Mo now has FOUR levels of Patron to choose from - one of which is absolutely FREE and includes regular free digis.  Paid memberships start at just $2.50 per month (plus tax where applicable) and include even more digi images plus coupons!  Please do go and check it out.  Remember you can access the lowest tier and a freebie for free!  You can find Mo's Patreon Page HERE

By the way, if you would prefer to see my cards on Facebook, please look for Lesley Kollinsky Grenouille Greetings HERE 

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

CD Sunday Plus - #149 Always Anything Digital Goes

Love Those Pretty Papers - Jan Anything Goes with optional Fancy Fold

Polkadoodles #1 - Always Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday #297 Use something New (the digi stamp)

Sweet Stampin - Jan - New

Time Out #279 - Beginnings

  

Wishing you all a wonderful, healthy, prosperous New Year filled with love and laughter!

Hugs, Lesley K

Edited to add a little happy dance celebrating a Top 3 choice from my friends at CD Sunday Plus