Madcap Manor

  Good morning, my lovelies! I hope you're all keeping well!   Before I get on to our new Challenge at The Holly and Ivy , I have some news! I am going to be a Grandma again next March! My daughter in Ireland has finally given me permission to make the announcement. It's so exciting!   Now back to our normal service. I apologise for the naff photo, the colours are brighter irl. I used an adorable older stamp by Meljen for Whimsy Stamps - I'm glad to say that her images are available through Whimsy Stamps in digital form - though unfortunately not this cute mouse.   The background paper has been hanging around my stash for years, it includes some festive silver glitter. I matched the stripes on the mouse's hat to the colours on the patterned paper to make a change from traditional Christmas colours. The sentiment strip came with a magazine a long time ago, and matches perfectly. I love it when a plan comes together!   Do scurry across to the challenge blog, my t

  I apologise, folks, I thought I had scheduled my post for My Time to Craft Christmas but I mucked up the scheduling.  Our new challenge is Christmas Critters and I used an old stamp from Penny Black of the cutest singing mice! I painted the image with Distress Inks (I really need to practise my watercolouring!) I channelled my inner Cathy Zielski and included a wide margin around the panel. Finally I added a few clear sequins for a touch of bling.  Dig out your cutest Christmas critter images and have a go at our Challenge!  Thanks for looking and take care.  love Mags B x

Hello, my dearios! I hope you all had a good weekend! To start the week we have a new Challenge at Dream Valley which is to use at least 2 patterned papers on your creation. If, like me, you have stacks of patterned papers, this is a very useful Challenge!   Our sponsor is Di's Digital Stamps and I have used Scarecrow Bear - he's on sale on the website at the moment if you want to check him out! My 3 papers are from an old pad by Kanban - the brown background has a subtle ombre effect which doesn't really show in my naff photo! I used sketch #16 by Jess Crafts - she has a Youtube Channel with loads of great ideas for using 6x6 papers.   Have a look through your papers and use some up in our challenge!   Thanks for looking and stay safe!   love Mags B x

Hello, my dearios! I hope you're all looking forward to an enjoyable and relaxing weekend. We have a new challenge at My Time to Craft to keep you entertained!   Our theme this time is Embossing either heat-embossing or dry-embossing. I went with both, following This video from the lovely Natasha Foote. The technique begins at 3 minutes 10 seconds. I used an embossing folder and brayered white pigment ink over the raised side. (Natasha used Versamark, but pigment ink was easier to see to make sure I had good coverage - and since it stays wet for longer than dye ink it's fine for heat-embossing.)  I used an embossing bag on my plain cardstock to prevent powder from sticking where I didn't want it and ran it and the folder through my Cuttlebug. Then I sprinkled on gold embossing powder and heat-set it.   The gold embossing sits in the debossed pattern and gives a very pretty look, though the photo doesn't do it justice. A sentiment and some gold ribbon later a

  Hello! There's another Challenge at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge where it's always Anything Christmas Goes. My image is from Bugaboo - I am so very sorry that the store has closed, I adore Jodie's stamps, they are unique.  This is one of my favourites. The papers came from my stash, I didn't add a sentiment because 'Merry Christmas' is printed on the paper.  I used both blue and silver card to mat and layer. Check out our Challenge blog and join in! Thanks for looking and stay safe. love Mags B x

Hello, my dearios! I hope you're all keeping well this Friday evening and looking forward to a relaxing weekend.   We have a new challenge at My Time to Craft Christmas which is to use a very yummy photo as the inspiration for your creation. You can be inspired by the colours, the biscuits, the patterns or the sweets - as many or few as you choose!  I went with the Gingerbread and Candy canes!  I stamped Gingerbread people on my background, using a pale beige ink which did not want to be photographed clearly, chiz.    The focal point is a die-cut from an old Simon Says Stamp kit, inlaid with red holographic card, and the green bow is from the same die-set, cut from a scrap of green satin gloss card - I always keep scraps of speciality card, they come in useful so often!  The circle die-cut is made with a very old doily die from Cheery Lynn and the sentiment is by Paper Smooches. I am 'shopping my stash' (using what I already have, in other words!) and it's very sat

Hi there! I'm getting back into the swing of things after a week's holiday in the glorious Lake District. Fresh air, gorgeous scenery and delicious food - perfick!  Now it's time for a new Challenge at Dream Valley where we'd like to see you use a digi. Our sponsor is the fabulous All Dressed Up and Wendy kindly let the DT use some of her sweet images for the Challenge. I went with Autumn Leaves. So cute! I used autumn-coloured papers from the Snippets drawer and the sentiment is from an old Simon Says Stamp set. I can't quite get my head around the fact that it's September, and Autumn is here!  Check out my teamies' creations and dig out your favourite digi and join in the fun!  Thanks for looking and take care!  love Mags B x

  Evening, all! Ye Olde Manne and I have just returned from a week's holiday in the English Lake District. It is so beautiful - we went for long walks along Lake Windermere and in the fells around. Our first holiday in two years! Unfortunately the place we were staying at had no wi-fi, which is why I'm posting this quite late on Friday evening.  Our new Challenge at My Time to Craft is Travel or Transport. Once again I have used older items from my stash which sadly seem to be unavailable now. The image is embossed in Platinum embossing powder from Simon Says Stamp. The map paper is from my stash. I went around the edge of the oval die-cut with Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink, which matched the blue card I used for a mat.  I'm rather pleased with this, it's going to a friend who is retiring from his job soon.  Check out my teamies' fab work and have a go yourself!  Thanks for looking and take care!  love Mags B x