Crackling campfire in my studio

Autumn arrived on Tuesday and since then the temperatures dipped and we have had some very welcome rain. I promised I would share some more photos of our Staycation trips we enjoyed a few weeks back. This also fits in well with showing the inspiration for my set of tags I made with the awesome new distress ink colour, crackling campfire. I shared the first one on Sunday (click) here if you missed it.

As well as Hever castle we enjoyed another visit to Wisley and to Polesden Lacey, a National Trust property in Surrey. At Wisley there is also a sculpture exhibition of the 4 seasons, by Philip Hass, an American film maker and sculptor. These are huge pieces and such fun.

The greenhouses have reopened and are looking splendid. It's so good to see the orchids and tropical plants again.

At Polesden Lacey the downstairs of the house is open as well as the glorious gardens. A house has stood on this spot since 1336. Over the years it was added to and in 1906 it was extensively remodeled by the heiress Margaret Greville, who entertained society and royalty there at weekends. Her hospitality was legendary and the Queen Mother spent her honeymoon here in 1923.

It's such fun peeping through the door and looking back to life in the 1920s. Apparently this house was going to be left to the Queen Mother but as history took another turn with the abdication she could not accept it and it was left to the nation instead. 

So back to my makes. I challenged myself to use all the forms of the gorgeous new Crackling campfire distress colour on each tag. This is the richest colour you can imagine and really surpassed my expectionations. Tim Holtz really is the master of all things inky. 

Some of you may have seen the following as I have shared them on Instagram. You can see them (click) here as well as my latest makes 

Below are the 2 I have not yet shared here on my blog. First up is my owl in the tree. I used the old wrinkle free technique to make the background with some text stamping. I added some glaze to the tree and I thought the tiny talk stickers were perfect! The owl is stamped in oxide. All the stamps and stencils I have used are by Tim. 

Finally here is my vase of autumn flowers. I stamped in paint on a spray background for this one. The dies are again all Tim's. There is also some glaze on the 3D die which I cut up and added to the vases. 

And here are my 3 tags together.

I also decided to update my letter board in my studio from Speckled egg to Crackling campfire and display my newest tags. 

and yes there in another awesome pin badge too.

So now as I sit in my studio making I can remember all the colours of late summer and early autumn. I can imagine a crackling campfire blazing too!

I would like to enter my tags into the following challenges;

The house that stamps built 1/3 anything goes

Shopping our stash make a mess, inks, sprays etc

Through the craftroom door 1/3 anything goes

Crafty sentiments 1/3 anything goes

Thanks so much for stopping by today and for the kind comments you take the time to leave here. 

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

Wisley in summer

A few weeks ago my Hb and I visited Wisley RHS gardens to celebrate our wedding anniversary. This was very different to any other visit I have ever made as we had to pre book tickets, socially distance and wear face masks in the shop. The one positive though was how peaceful everywhere was as visitor numbers are now limited.

We were very lucky with the weather, it was a little drizzly when we arrived but it cheered up during our visit and the sun even peeped out at lunctime.

Here are some of my photos

The summer colours were stunning

There were also some fun metal sculptures on display, these were 2 of my favourites.

So my challenge today is a tag I made using my Tim Holtz Lady Rose stamp set and some distress inks. You may have seen this on social media but I have not yet blogged it.

I would like to enter my tag into the following challenges;

Gem of a challenge 2/3 anything goes
Simon says stamp Wednesday anything goes
A bit more time to craft 2/3 anything goes
The artistic stamper 2/3 anything goes
Crafters' castle 2/3 anything goes
Love to craft 2/3 anything goes
Crafty calendar 2/3 anything goes

Remember that I have a giveaway running here which is open to everyone internationally. One person will win all that is shown in the photo below. 

It ends this Saturday 8th August at midnight, so do stop by and leave a comment over there before it closes. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today,

Back soon, 

Bye for now,

Jane x

Wisley Houseplant takeover inspiration

Good afternoon, I recently visited Wisley RHS gardens with my dear blogging friend Brenda. We enjoy regular catch ups and every time we visit there is something new to see. A new exhibition is running in the greenhouses until March called "The Giant Houseplant Takeover" and what fabulous take over it is. 

They have created 6 "rooms" which have been literally taken over by houseplants...

How brilliant is this dressing table in the bedroom.

This is the entrance...they must have had such fun making up the names and creating the scenes.

I adore succulents so this dining table display to me was just perfection 

but I think you would be in for a surprise if you sat on one of these chairs 😄

Bath anyone? 

There are so many fun details to spot..cheers, mine is a G&T please.

At the exit you take a token to vote for your favourite of the six rooms...Entrance, living room, bedroom, kitchen, dining room or bathroom. I voted for the dining room but I wonder what you might choose, they are all just splendid.
Our wonderful visit inspired my make today,which is also one of my samples I am making with the brand new Visible Image release which is on preorder now and is released this Saturday 15th February.

This is one of a pair of tags I have made, I will share a step by step and the other tag soon but you will see them on the Visible Image Facebook Live this weekend.
The set is called Break free

My flower has spotted the sunshine and has broken free from the vase...shattering it in its excitement! I wonder if it has gone to join the houseplants at Wisley 😊

A close up of the shattered glass and spilt water, which in real life is very textured indeed. My recipe for making this  is secret for now but all will be revealed soon!

and one last shot.

I would like to enter my tag into the following challenges;

Love to craft 2/3 anything goes

Crafty sentiments 3/3 anything goes

Unicorn blog 3/3 anything goes

Cute card Thursday 2/3 anything goes
We love 2 create 2/3 anything goes
Simon says stamp Monday crack it up
Stamping sensations 1/3 feminine
Addicted to stamps and more 1/3 anything goes
Through the craft room door 1/3 anything goes

It's now only 9 days until I will be demonstrating for Stampers Grove at the Create It! show in Farnborough, Hampshire. It runs 21-22nd February. I will be there both days sharing lots of tips and techniques, all  the new Visible Image stamps and stencils release plus lots of oldies too.
Remember to look for my badge I will be wearing and.....

It would be lovely to see you there.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x