Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Alcohol Inks on Vellum

 Hello again...

Have you tried alcohol inks on vellum? I hadn't until yesterday. I didn't even know you could use them on  vellum but I live and learn, courtesy of those clever ladies at The CAS Mix Up and all you talented people who share tips and tricks.

So whilst clearing my desk I found a small piece of vellum and thought I'd give it a go... I grabbed the first few AI's that would open (it's been awhile so some are stuck tight) and I was amazed. What to do next? Well, it's taking me a little time to get back into card making but I got there


So I have a card to for my friend's birthday and I one can enter at

And at The Flower Challenge


My splatters and liquid pearls are the spots...

I have no idea what vellum this is... I bought tons for wedding invitations I made a few years back but many of the packs I got were not white enough so I didn't use them. However, it worked well with AI's and the stamping / embossing of the flower, which I fussy cut and added white gel pen to.

I don't know what you call those teeny tiny beads or why I had 2 packs in my stash (now 1.5 packs as the floor got the rest) nor do I get how you are supposed use them... Heck they roll EVERYWHERE but somehow I got a bunch to stay. Maybe I should have used a dish? Splattering gold Poca paint is so much easier

Now you know what I'll be doing with all those pieces of vellum from now on

By the way the flower is an Hibiscus but I can't stop seeing a pansy now... Huh

Enjoy your day/evening

~ Ros ~




Monday, July 12, 2021

And it's raining

Hello! 
Yep, it's still raining and the temperatures is around 63F... The great British summer. But I'm not stressed about it, there's always something to do. Yesterday I decided to do a little sketching and painting and discovered quite a lot of paintings I have done over the year that I never did anything with... Maybe I will turn them into cards.
The two I did yesterday I did turn into cards...
 

 Because I did these on watercolour CS which is not as white as I'd like, I printed the background cardstock and believe it or not, it is actually a green ombre but it looks more gold on my photos...


...Which is okay as I used gold paint anyway

I really enjoyed doing these, it's been awhile

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my garden! I was hesitant to share the photos but as always you guys lift my spirits
My pretty Lilies are flowering in the garden right now..Actually I don't know what they are called but I'm sure they are from the Lily family and no doubt someone out there will know the correct name
 

And there are plenty more in the mini jungle I call a garden

Finally before I go I have to tell you that I got to go back to my exercise class last week, the first in almost a year. How I survived I have no idea... I ached in every part of my body Lol!
I'm not a fitness fanatic - more like a clock watcher when I have to exercise, hoping the time goes quickly but I have to try and keep this stenosis at bay and oil the joints.

Okay... Have yourselves a beautiful day

Till soon

~ Ros ~

Wednesday, July 07, 2021

Hello July

Well hello

I hope you are all well and enjoying summer. We've had rain for days now with a few intermittent bouts of sunshine but it's not what you would call summer weather or temperatures in my neck of the woods and yet I know a lot of you are over heating... Crazy!
 
I've still nothing crafty to share but I have a some garden photos (still a work in progress). Unfortunately DH can't tell a flower from a weed so I've lost quite a few of my perennials and his eyesight is now really poor but I've found him lots to do.
You may remember that I bought a new garden swing awhile ago but I decided to see f I could repair the old one
 

Well, Ginger just loves it and sits out there even in the pouring rain, so I got new parts, fitted them with Ian's help and then re-covered the seat in a thick waterproof fabric. That was hard work! The fabric is so tough but it's definitely waterproof and Gingerboy is happy.

Then there was an area where we (weather permitting) like to dine outdoors but it was quite dull - You can see it on this photo I took in May, just on the left

Before


... And now it looks like this


With a little water feature, made from a planter that I painted and it has a few succulents in there. Solar lights, a string of heart lights and pretty plants. To the side on the wall...


The photos are a little dull because the weather is wet and dull but you get the idea.


My goal was to try and use up as much stuff as I already had so the only new thing here was the mirror and the seat fabric. I had those shutters stored away from years ago and like the fencing they just needed a coat of paint, courtesy of DH. The seat cover (for 2 chairs I joined together) was made by me with some foam I had and a metre of water resist fabric

I've spent a lot of time cutting back trees and one had to go altogether which left an ugly space that I look out onto from my craft room so I transformed that with plants and flowers and bits I already had


The little bird cage held a candle but now it has greenery and solar lights that shower down when it gets dark. The mirrors were 2 old frames and I bought 2 pieces of acrylic mirror to fit them. DH helped me to hang them and if you look closely you can see the nod of approval from a little robin.
 
DH gave my little shed a coat of paint...
 

 All the added extras I had, the owl hanging to the left to which I added chimes, the the cat hook on the door and a plaque that I recovered and varnished.  The metal jug I painted and added lights that stream down at night. Ignore the chair, it's where the morning sun hits and Ginger heads off there every morning.


I said it was a work in progress and in the next month or so we are having all this gravel replaced with artificial grass and I'm really excited about that

The fountain in the middle will stay, it was leaking badly but now with some waterproof cement and new bags of pebbles it works a treat.

You could say I have been crafty but in the garden rather than with paper... 

I will catch up with you all soon and I hope you enjoyed seeing what I've been up to along with all the other things life throws up. There have been a few hospital visits for DH and he is now having to have eye surgery, though we don't have a date yet. 

Stay well and thanks so much for your visit

Till next time

~ Ros ~


Friday, June 25, 2021

All's well..

 Hi friends!

It's been a while since I posted and though I still don't have anything to share with you, I just wanted to let you know that I'm just taking time out to do other things  There is so much to do and the weather has been favourable to finally gets to grips with stuff that needs doing in the garden.

I've spent the last few weeks clearing borders, chopping down overgrown trees, trimming back huge laurels, repairing a leaking fountain and swing chair and re-modelling a new area. It's all been hard and heavy work and I'm not as agile as I used to be but we're slowly getting there. I'm still being creative it's just that my creativity is outdoors right now.

I hope you are all well and as it is now raining and DH is golfing I'm going to catch up with your blogs...

Enjoy the upcoming weekend

Till soon

~ Ros ~


Thursday, June 10, 2021

Big Bee

 Now see what that bee started? 
You were all so complimentary and encouraging with your comments that I did another one....
 
 
This time a big bee inspired by a cushion I saw on Pinterest. It allowed me to paint a little more detail like the tiny hairs on his/ her legs.


But I'm not very good at doing wings so these are digital wings printed on Vellum and the veins painted over... In case you are wondering, I use a lovely paint brush by Pro Arte (from Amazon) that allows me to add fine detail. 


A mix of painted flowers and leaves with a couple of fabric ones thrown in, some rhinestones and a great deal of satisfaction. I hope you like it, sharing again at Double D Challenges



Have a Bee- utiful day

~ Ros ~

 

Tuesday, June 08, 2021

It's a Bee

 Hello... 
I'm back today with a card for two challenges
 
I always enjoy joining in with the CAS Mix Up and this month it's watercolour - How could I not?

And then there's the fabulous challenge with my friends at Double D who have supplied this lovely mood board for inspiration


And... I just love bees!
So I had to pull out my pens and paints, though I've never attempted drawing a bee before, yes I did have a stamp but I wanted to try my own and I am quite pleased with the result
 

 I tried to photograph the shine on his wings but I couldn't - Trust me it's there... My flowers and leaves are all hand drawn and there is sparkle in the centre of the yellow flower but again hard to capture


He is in 'flight' as per the prompt at the CAS Mix UP  
and judging by his legs, he's already visited a few flowers
 

 It's been a while since I sketched and painted and now I want to do more Lol!
 
Thanks so much for your visit, have a lovely day
 
~ Ros ~