An ode to autumn 2017

Now that we have reached December autumn is fading fast and winter really is just around the corner. Darkness arrives by late afternoon and the temperature is dropping like a stone.

Autumn 2017 really has been quite exceptional here in the south of England. Warmer that normal temperatures and lots of sunshine kept the leaves on the trees and turned them into every fiery shade of gold, red and orange you could imagine. These have really fuelled my crafting muse and I thought I would share some of my favourite autumnal nature photos as a last ode to autumn.

Today is also my Monday inspiration for Visible Image and I decided to make an autumn sprite to say goodbye to this season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. 

I used distress oxide inks and the wonderful Face it! stamp set.

 I added masking fluid to keep her eyes white and then built up the inks using the wrinkle free technique.

I then used the Stencil to create her face by blending some more inks.

I removed the masking fluid and coloured her eyes and lips. I added some die cut cobwebs

 and leaves which were stamped with script from the Scripted Streets set. I gave some extra crackle too.

I also added details to her face from the Create it set. 

The sentiment is from the Imperfection is beauty set.

Meet my autumn sprite...

she is saying a fond farewell to autumn 2017.

I would like to enter her into the following challenges

Creative Artiste 1/3 anything goes mixed media
Craft Stamper Take it make it anything goes
Emerald Creek Dares anything goes
Noor UK anything goes
Simon says stampWednesday anything goes

All the Visible Image links can be found here;

Visible Image group page on Facebook. Our friendly Group can be found here ...it would be lovely to see you. You can add work to the "Show and Tell" album where one randomly chosen winner each month wins a £25 coupon to spend on the website.

The main Visible Image Facebook page is here; there are weekly stamp giveaways...open world wide!

And the shop web site is here; where all these gorgeous stamps and stencils can be purchased. 

You can also follow via:

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Thanks so much for stopping by today and for the kind comments you take the time to leave me, especially at this very busy time of the year....are you ready?

My naughty elf has been up to mischief again....

I caught him drinking gin at 10am yesterday!

Our tree is up and Billy is busy typing his post for you.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

A golden start to December

This is my second post of the day....If you are looking for my Country View challenge post from this morning you can find it here

My vintage advent calendar is hung and I shall be opening my number 1 window very soon...

There is number 1....ready to reveal it's little scene.

It is also the first Friday of the month so it is time for the new STAMPlorations theme and sketch challenge.
The theme is to use your stamps and gold. You don't have to use STAMPlorations stamps but we do love to see them!

 and below is the lovely sketch you can use if you would like to.

The details can all be found here

I chose to work with the theme and the sketch and got out my sewing machine to stitch the sketch onto gold card.

I then used the fab coffee for all seasons stamp set

and created the card below

It would be lovely to see lots of you joining in with the last challenge of the year and remember you can use my discount code STAMPGIRLJANE at the checkout to get a whopping 20% off your order.


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

Cupcake inspirations 1/3 #433

Simon says Wednesday 4/5 anything goes

Card Mania 1/5 Christmas

Crafty Catz 1/3 anything goes #395

Emerald Creek Dares anything goes

A bit more time to craft 1/3 #57

Noor UK anything goes

It has been so cold the last few days but it is perfect for this festive time of the year! I also have a new visitor this year

Meet my Elf on the shelf.... or rather the window sill. He has already been up to mischief...

Yes I caught him red handed die cutting...hmmm....this could be an interesting countdown to Christmas....I will report back soon if I catch him doing anything else!

Bye for now,

Jane x

Countdown to Christmas 2017

Oh my, we have arrived at the 1st of December and I can now start the countdown to Christmas, my very favourite time of the year!

My Mum and I enjoyed a trip to Harrods. The Christmas shop is always a delight.

All these lovely red and greens fits in well with my card today which is my Design Team inspiration for Country View for our new December Challenge. The theme is Christmas with optional reds, greens and rust! The details are here

I love the sound of sleigh bells at Christmas so I thought that I would made some rusted bells for my projects. Today I am sharing my jingle bells card. I will share the other on December 17th.

I die cut some Tim Holz bells and added texture paste

 When it was dry I started building up layers with my mixed media DecoArt acrylic paints.

 Once I was happy I left these to dry.

For my background I made a red inky base with distress inks and added some trees using my TH stencil

I then stamped a pattern with my fave Tim retro Christmas stamps.

I then put my card together. 

We would love to see lots of you joining in with our last challenge of the year.

Remember that you can enter our challenge as many times as you like and combine with any other challenges. Your make can be anything creative! You may even be the lucky random winner of the £20 CVC voucher.

All the details can be found here

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

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge 3/3 #361

Sweet stampin  3/3 fave Christmas colours red and green are my fave traditional colours 

Crimbo Crackers 3/3 #146

Simon says Wednesday 3/5 anything goes

Winter wonderland 2/3 red and green

Christmas cards all year round 1/3 anything goes

Thanks for stopping by and for the kind comments you take the time to leave me, especially at this very busy time of the year.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x