Are there fairies at the bottom of my garden?

Back last year I had this great idea of making a set of altered giant playing cards - one every week! Unfortunately with my snail's pace crafting, work and life generally getting in the way, etc, etc, it has not happened. So, I think this is more of an occasional series. I do like doing them though, as they are a nice size to work with.

Here is my next one, actually made some time back in the new year before my life got turned upside down, but mislaid between the temporary bedroom craft room and my craft shed movements. It turned up again last week.

This design uses Adirondack dye inks for shading and black archival for stamping. The fairy is from Elusive Images, I added some Glamour Dust glitter to her wings. The sentiment is from Quietfire and the ferns and dragonfly are from Crafty Individuals. The vine leaf edging stamp is one I use over and over from Lavinia Stamps.

This design was inspired by my dear crafty friend Jo, who said when she came to stay with me, that if fairies existed they would live in our garden.

The garden is certainly a wild and special place!

Thanks for popping by!

Elaine x
 

Comic Relief - do something funny for money!

Today is Comic Relief Day in the UK. This is a fundraising event that always manages to capture my heart - raising money for really deserving community projects both in the UK and around the world.

Many people like me will have watched the various programmes in recent weeks about the kinds of communities where help is needed, reminding us who live quite affluent lives, with all our needs looked after just how much we have compared with many people around the world, including close to home.

I was inspired to make a tag for Comic Relief by a new blog I found recently - and this post Red Nose Day Queen. Do pop over and have a look and leave a comment on Caroline's great tag. In one of the amazing coincidences that happen in blogland - it turns out that Caroline and I know each other through work and we didn't even realise we were both crafters!

My tag uses the Prima Notary script text, such a useful background stamped in Red Peper Adirondack ink, Viva flourishes stamp in archival black ink the the lovely Julia from Cherry Pie stamps. I have added a vintage red nose badge for her nose  from 2005 which celebrated 10 years of Comic Relief. The I added a Comic Relief sticker and various red embellies and a ribbon.

So today, whether you are doing something funny for money yourself, watching the feast of comedy on the TV tonight  or just making a donation - have fun - but take time to remember what it's really all about.

Elaine x

An art journal page

Just a quick post as I haven't had much to share in the way of projects to share lately - I have been working on top secret design team projects for Chcolate Baroque! Yesterday I posted my art journal pages on our shared Craft Stamping Quartet blog here. Here is just a sneeky peek.

I've also been busy moving back into my craft shed after the winter. My crafty friends tell me off for calling my lovely studio space a "shed". I always say it is just verbal shorthand, it doesn't signify a lack of appreciation for my special creative space - I love it and it's great to be back in there! As you can see I have wasted no time in making a mess!

You can see my next journal pages under construction and my new stamp storage arrangements at the back of my desk. I think I am going to have to move my all ink pads out of the light though. 

Here is the cover of a book I am making to store all the pics I have of different cards and projects to inspire me into crafty action. I used some of the lovely Tim Holtz Lost and Found paper stack.

I am really looking forward to more crafty time now in my crafty space!

Thanks for popping by!

Elaine x